Obtund

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Obtund \Ob*tund"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Obtunded}; p. pr. & vb.
     n. {Obtunding}.] [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. [Archaic] --Harvey.


     [1913 Webster]
  
           They . . . have filled all our law books with the
           obtunding story of their suits and trials. --Milton.
     [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  obtund
       v : reduce the edge or violence of; "obtunded reflexes"