dead

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Sense 1

Meaning · English

To prevent by disabling; to stop.

Where it’s used: Used American English

Examples

“What a man should do, when finds his natural impotency dead him in spiritual works”

Quoted attestation: 1826, The Whole Works of the Right Rev. Edward Reynolds, Lord Bishop of Norwich, collected by Edward Reynolds, Benedict Riveley, and Alexander Chalmers. pp. 227. London: B. Holdsworth.

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

To make dead; to deaden; to deprive of life, force, or vigour.

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Sense 3

Meaning · English

To kill.

Register: slang

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “dead” mean?

To prevent by disabling; to stop.

Is “dead” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.