Pronunciation: [dˈɛfən] (IPA) 
The word "deafen" is spelled with a "e" after the "d" because it is pronounced with a "short e" sound. The phonetic transcription for "deafen" is /ˈdɛfən/. This means the "e" is pronounced with a "short e" sound, as in "bed" or "let". If the word were spelled with an "i" after the "d", it would be pronounced with a "long e" sound, as in "bean" or "seen". So, the correct spelling of the word "deafen" reflects its pronunciation.
Deafen, as a verb, refers to the act of causing someone or something to become unable to hear or experience sounds through the sense of hearing. This can be achieved by subjecting an individual or an organism to an extremely loud noise or intense sound, resulting in a temporary or permanent impairment of their ability to discern sounds. The term is also used metaphorically to describe overwhelming or stifling a person's ability to process information or emotions.
When applied in a literal sense, deafen denotes the action of causing profound hearing loss. This can occur due to exposure to explosive blasts, prolonged exposure to loud noises, or certain medical conditions affecting the auditory system. As a result, individuals affected by deafness may experience communication difficulties, reduced auditory awareness, and an altered quality of life.
Metaphorically, deafen portrays the overwhelming nature of an event or situation, typically resulting from a surplus of information or intense emotional experiences. For instance, one might say that the constant ringing of phones in a busy office can deafen the employees. Similarly, a person overwhelmed by grief and sorrow may feel deafened by their emotions, as it becomes increasingly challenging to process or respond to their surroundings.
Overall, the term deafen encompasses both the physical impairment of hearing caused by excessive noise and the figurative sense of being overwhelmed or stifled in one's ability to perceive or respond to auditory stimuli or external circumstances.
To make deaf; to stun.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "deafen" originated from the Old English word "deafian", which was derived from the Proto-Germanic word "daubijan" meaning "to make deaf". It is ultimately linked to the Proto-Indo-European root "*dʰ(e)ubʰ-" which meant "to deafen, to dull, or to stun". This root also gave rise to words such as "deaf" in English and "taub" in German.
