obtund (ob-TUHND) - v., to reduce the edge or violence of, to dull, to blunt.
Largely used in medical contexts, so things that get obtunded include pain and reflexes. In use since the 14th century as obtunden, from Latin obtundere, to beat against, from ob-, against + tundere, to strike (from PIE *(s)tew-, to hit/push) -- the Latin word also gave us obtuse, blunted.
---L.
Largely used in medical contexts, so things that get obtunded include pain and reflexes. In use since the 14th century as obtunden, from Latin obtundere, to beat against, from ob-, against + tundere, to strike (from PIE *(s)tew-, to hit/push) -- the Latin word also gave us obtuse, blunted.
---L.