dampen

Definition

To make damp or moist; to make moderately wet.

Etymology

From damp + -en.

Example Sentences

• "We won't let the bad news dampen our spirits."
• "He was dreadfully familiar with everything, and talked about some places we were longing to see in a way that considerably dampened our enthusiasm."
• "Pregnant women are 20 times as likely as other healthy young women to contract listeriosis, probably because in pregnancy the immune system is dampened to prevent rejection of the fetus."