It's a bit tricky because the word "damp" can be used as a stand-alone word meaning "slightly wet." But, in "dampen," "damp" acts as a prefix, adding the meaning of "to make slightly wet" or "to reduce the intensity of."
It's a bit tricky because the word "damp" can be used as a stand-alone word meaning "slightly wet." But, in "dampen," "damp" acts as a prefix, adding the meaning of "to make slightly wet" or "to reduce the intensity of."