retund
English
Etymology
From Latin retundere, retusum, from re- (“re-”) + tundere (“to beat”).
Verb
retund (third-person singular simple present retunds, present participle retunding, simple past and past participle retunded) (obsolete)
- (transitive) To blunt; to make less sharp.
- 1691, John Ray, The Wisdom of God Manifested in the Works of the Creation. […], London: […] Samuel Smith, […], →OCLC:
- Covered with skin and hair keeps it warm, being naturally a very cold part, and also to quench and dissipate the force of any stroke that shall be dealt it, and retund the edge of any weapon.
- (transitive, figuratively) To cause to be obtuse, weak or dull.
- to retund someone's confidence
References
- “retund”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.