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)

1. (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.

2. (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.

Anagrams

• Druten, deturn, dunter, runted, turned