Dim, a. [Compar. Dimmer; superl. Dimmest.]
Etymology: [AS. dim; akin to OFries. dim, Icel. dimmr: cf. MHG. timmer, timber; of uncertain origin.]
1. Not bright or distinct; wanting luminousness or clearness; obscure in luster or sound; dusky; darkish; obscure; indistinct; overcast; tarnished. The dim magnificence of poetry. Whewell. How is the gold become dim! Lam. iv. 1. I never saw The heavens so dim by day. Shak. Three sleepless nights I passed in sounding on, Through words and things, a dim and perilous way. Wordsworth.
2. Of obscure vision; not seeing clearly; hence, dull of apprehension; of weak perception; obtuse. Mine eye also is dim by reason of sorrow. Job xvii. 7. The understanding is dim. Rogers.
Note: Obvious compounds: dim-eyed; dim-sighted, etc.
Syn. -- Obscure; dusky; dark; mysterious; imperfect; dull; sullied; tarnished.
2 other Webster entries under this spelling
Dim, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dimmed; p. pr. & vb. n. Dimming.]
1. To render dim, obscure, or dark; to make less bright or distinct; to take away the luster of; to darken; to dull; to obscure; to eclipse. A king among his courtiers, who dims all his attendants. Dryden. Now set the sun, and twilight dimmed the ways. Cowper.
2. To deprive of distinct vision; to hinder from seeing clearly, either by dazzling or clouding the eyes; to darken the senses or understanding of. Her starry eyes were dimmed with streaming tears. C. Pitt.
Dim, v. i.
To grow dim. J. C. Shairp.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for dim; he lists it under dark, faint, obscure.
Where he writes about it:
Dim refers to imperfection of outline, from distance, darkness, mist, etc., or from some defect of vision. — from dark
Written characters may be faint or dim, either because originally written with poor ink, or because they have become faded by time and exposure. — from faint