obtundo Latin · revision 35888

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=Plautus (c. 250–184 BC)|origins=ine-pro *(s)tu-n-d-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ɔpˈtʊn.doː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [obˈtun.do]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''obtundō''' (present infinitive obtundere, perfect active obtudī, supine obtūsum); third conjugation^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|ob-|tundō|t1=against, upon|t2=to beat, strike]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline) The verb [[m|la|tundō]] goes back to [[itc-pro|*(s)tund-e/o-|t=to thrust]] and [[ine-pro|*(s)tu-n-d-|t=to thrust]], a nasal present.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ The prefix is also written ⟨opt-⟩, and the participle has both ⟨obtūsus⟩ and ⟨obtunsus⟩.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is found from Plautus on,^(Köbler 2010) first in the literal sense: in the ''Amphitruo'' a character complains ''nam sum obtūsus pugnīs pessumē'', “for I've been beaten black and blue with fists”.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ L&S notes that the literal “beat, thump” is rare and mostly ante- and post-classical.^(Lewis & Short 1879) From striking it passed to sound beating on the ears, in Lucretius,^(OLD 2012) and to wearing out the ears or a person with repeated words, “to din into one's ears”, as in Plautus, Cicero and Livy;^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Cicero speaks of annoying someone with long letters.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ Lucretius also uses it for blunting a weapon.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) From this came the figurative “to dull, deaden”: Cicero did not want young men's wits to be blunted,^(OLD 2012) and Pliny speaks of dulling the eyesight and the hearing.^(Lewis & Short 1879) Celsus uses it of ears made deaf in a fever, and Cicero of a voice that has grown hoarse from speaking.^(OLD 2012) Ecclesiastical Latin has “dull, make blunt, weaken, make weary”.^(Stelten 1995) The participle [[obtūsus]] “blunt, dull” is the source of English [[m|en|obtuse]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it for beating with fists.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 96–55 BC – Lucretius uses it for blunting a weapon and for sound striking the ears.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it for blunting the wits and for a hoarse voice.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 14–37 AD – Celsus uses it of deafened ears.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 23/24–79 AD – Pliny the Elder uses it for dulling the eyesight.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * early 15th century – English borrows the participle as [[m|en|obtuse]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To [[m|en|beat]], [[m|en|batter]], pummel; to strike against an obstacle.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # ''(of a sound)'' To strike the ears.^(OLD 2012)

+ # To weary (the ears or a person) with repeated words; to [[m|en|din]] something into someone's ears.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # To make [[m|en|blunt]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # ''(figurative)'' To dull, [[m|en|deaden]] (the senses, the mind, a feeling).^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # To make deaf.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(of the voice)'' To make [[m|en|hoarse]]; to make a sound indistinct.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[obtūsiangulus]]

+ * [[obtūsiō]]

+ * [[obtūsus]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[en|obtuse]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}