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dent¹

(dĕnt)

1. A depression in a surface made by pressure or a blow: a dent in the side of a car.

2. Informal A significant, usually diminishing effect or impression: The loss put a dent in the team's confidence.

3. Informal Meaningful progress; headway: at least made a dent in the work.

v. dent·ed, dent·ing, dents

v.tr.

To make a dent in.

v.intr.

To become dented: a fender that dents easily.

[Middle English dent, variant of dint, blow, from Old English dynt.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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