Wordsmith.org: the magic of words


A.Word.A.Day

About | Media | Search | Contact  


Home

Today's Word

Yesterday's Word

Archives

FAQ


Jun 11, 2004
This week's theme
Verbs

This week's words
amerce
deracinate
wamble
embrangle
obtund

This week's comments
AWADmail 125

Next week's theme
Words to describe physical characteristics of people
Bookmark and Share Facebook Twitter Digg MySpace Bookmark and Share
A.Word.A.Day
with Anu Garg

obtund

Pronunciation RealAudio

(ob-TUND) verb tr.

To blunt, deaden, or dull.

[From Middle English, from Latin obtundere (to beat against), from ob- (against) + tundere (to beat). Other words derived from the same Latin root are pierce and contuse.]

See more usage examples of obtund in Vocabulary.com's dictionary.

"Self-improvement books are narcotics in ink. They obtund with false promise."
Tom Tiede; Self-Help Nation; Atlantic Monthly Press; 2001.

"It seemed wise to attack when the better part of their foes, complacent with garrison duty, would be obtunded from holiday celebrations."
S.N. Dyer; Resolve and Resistance; Omni (New York); Apr 1, 1995.

X-Bonus

If we had paid no more attention to our plants than we have to our children, we would now be living in a jungle of weeds. -Luther Burbank, horticulturist (1849-1926)

We need your help

Help us continue to spread the magic of words to readers everywhere

Donate

Subscriber Services
Awards | Stats | Links | Privacy Policy
Contribute | Advertise

© 1994-2024 Wordsmith