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.
Jeff Daniels, who was in the movie 'Dumb and Dumber' and starred on HBO's 'The Newsroom,' performs at Jim Thorpe's Mauch Chunk Opera House on May 14. (LUKE PLINE, CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)