obtund

• POS: Noun, Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: ob=tund

CIDE DICTIONARY

obtund, v. t. [L. obtundere, obtusum; ob (see Ob-) + tundere to strike or beat. See Stutter.].

 To reduce the edge, pungency, or violent action of; to dull; to blunt; to deaden; to quell; as, to obtund the acrimony of the gall.  Harvey.  [1913 Webster]
"They . . . have filled all our law books with the obtunding story of their suits and trials."  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

obtund, v.tr. blunt or deaden (a sense or faculty).

Etymology

ME f. L obtundere obtus- (as OB-, tundere beat)

ROGET THESAURUS

obtund

Insensibility

VB be insensible, have a rhinoceros hide, show insensibility, not mind, not care, not be affected by, have no desire for, have no interest in, feel no interest in, take no interest in, nil admirari, not care a straw for, disregard, set at naught, turn a deaf ear to, vegetate, render insensible, render callous, blunt, obtund, numb, benumb, paralyze, deaden, hebetate, stun, stupefy, brutify, brutalize, chloroform, anaesthetize, put under, assify, inure, harden the heart, steel, caseharden, sear.

Moderation

VB be moderate, keep within bounds, keep within compass, sober down, settle down, keep the peace, remit, relent, take in sail, moderate, soften, mitigate, temper, accoy, attemper, contemper, mollify, lenify, dulcify, dull, take off the edge, blunt, obtund, sheathe, subdue, chasten, sober down, tone down, smooth down, weaken, lessen, check palliate, tranquilize, pacify, assuage, appease, swag, lull, soothe, compose, still, calm, calm down, cool, quiet, hush, quell, sober, pacify, tame, damp, lay, allay, rebate, slacken, smooth, alleviate, rock to sleep, deaden, smooth, throw cold water on, throw a wet blanket over, turn off, slake, curb, tame, smooth over, pour oil on the waves, pour oil on the troubled waters, pour balm into, mattre de l'eau dans son vin, go out like a lamb, roar you as gently as any sucking dove.

Bluntness

VB be blunt, render blunt, obtund, dull, take off the point, take off the edge, turn.

Physical Insensibility

VB be insensible, have a thick skin, have a rhinoceros hide, render insensible, anaesthetize, blunt, pall, obtund, benumb, paralyze, put under the influence of chloroform, stupefy, stun.