OBTUND

obtund

(verb) reduce the edge or violence of; “obtunded reflexes”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Verb

obtund (third-person singular simple present obtunds, present participle obtunding, simple past and past participle obtunded)

(transitive, chiefly, medicine) To reduce the edge or effects of; to mitigate; to dull.

Synonyms

• (dull or mitigate): blunt, deaden

Source: Wiktionary

Ob*tund", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Obtunded; p. pr. & vb. n. Obtunding.] Etym: [L. obtundere, obtusum; ob (see Ob-) + tundere to strike or beat. See Stutter.]

Definition: 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. [Archaic] Harvey. They...have filled all our law books with the obtunding story of their suits and trials. Milton.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition