obtusus Latin · revision 34608

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=96–55 BC, Lucretius|origins=la tundō}}

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''obtūsus''' (feminine obtūsa, neuter obtūsum, comparative obtūsior); first/second-declension adjective^(OLD 2012)

+ Also spelled ''obtūnsus''.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ Lewis and Short find no superlative.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is the participle of [[m|la|obtundō|t=to beat, blunt]] used as an adjective,^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010) a compound of [[m|la|ob-]] and [[m|la|tundō|t=to beat]].^(OLD 2012) De Vaan traces [[m|la|tundō]] to [[itc-pro|*(s)tund-]] and [[ine-pro|*(s)tu-n-d-|t=to thrust]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Lucretius uses it of an angle, ''angulus obtusus'', and of strength that has been blunted, ''vires obtunsae''.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Of weapons and tools it means “blunt”: Virgil has the blunted share of a plough and Columella a dull pruning hook;^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Pliny the Elder uses it of the horns of the moon.^(Lewis & Short 1879) It was applied to dull light, to a hoarse or thick voice in Seneca the Elder and Quintilian,^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) and to the senses and the mind: Cicero speaks of a mind whose sight is duller, Virgil of insensible hearts, Gellius of a dull wit.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Tacitus uses it of a rough military jurisdiction.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ In the Vulgate it is used of minds that were dulled,^(Lewis & Short 1879) and in Ecclesiastical Latin it means “blunt, dull, obtuse”.^(Stelten 1995) The adverb [[obtūsē]] is post-classical.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 96–55 BC – Lucretius uses it of an angle and of weakened strength.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of the mind.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 70–19 BC – Virgil uses it of a ploughshare and of hearts.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 35–95/96 AD – Quintilian uses it of the voice.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 390–406 AD – The Vulgate uses it of dulled minds.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|blunt|alt=Blunt]] (of a weapon or tool); of an angle, [[m|en|obtuse]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # [[m|en|dull|alt=Dull]], lacking brilliance (of light); hoarse, thick (of the voice).^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # Dull, weak (of the senses or mind); of persons, obtuse.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # Lacking refinement, rough (of actions).^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}