The addition of -ity to an adjective results in a shift of stress to the antepenultimate syllable; that is, words in -ity are stressed on the last syllable before the -ity, even in cases where this syllable is part of another suffix (as in words in -ability and -icity).
adjective, dumber, dumbest. 1. lacking intelligence or good judgment; stupid; dull-witted. 2. lacking the power of speech (offensive when applied to humans): a dumb animal.
Witney Seibold's Pick: Monkey Business (1931) Dumb comedy is the best kind of comedy. It's often said â usually by comedians â that comedy stems from tragedy; laughter is just used, the theory goes, to mask the anxiety and depression that comes from the daily grind.