'92 Civic Dead Battery?

My 1992 Civic DX's battery appears to be dead. It's the OEM battery
and the interior dome light was left on the night before. When I tried
jumping the battery from my other car, it still never even approached
the point of turning over. The instrument lights lit up a little and I
heard some metalic mechanical sound (the starter, alternator?). I have
no problem with replacing the battery, but is this what's the matter?

Thanks very much.

 

At 12 years, you have gotten about 3x as much out of that battery as
most people. Leaving the dome light on over night was just the last nail
in the coffin. As batteries wear out it is not uncommon for one or more
cells to short circuit. If you try to jump start a car with such a
battery, the battery will draw so much current that the car can be
difficult or impossible to start even when jumped. So in short, I think
all your symptoms are typical of a worn out battery.

 

No voltmeter in the house to check the battery terminal voltage?

Like Randoph said, if this is the original battery, it has some
kind of record for longevity.

matter?