Slightly wet or containing moisture. Can also mean to reduce the intensity or force of something.
From Middle Low German 'damp' meaning 'vapor' or 'steam'. Originally referred to noxious gases in mines, then broadened to mean moisture in general by the 16th century.
The word 'damp' originally described deadly gases in coal mines that could suffocate miners, which is why we still say someone can 'dampen spirits' or 'put a damper' on things. The shift from dangerous gas to mild moisture shows how language can soften over time.
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