Numbness

[nuhm] /nʌm/

adjective, number, numbest.
1.
deprived of physical sensation or the ability to move:
fingers numb with cold.
2.
manifesting or resembling numbness:
a numb sensation.
3.
incapable of action or of feeling emotion; enervated; prostrate:
numb with grief.
4.
lacking or deficient in emotion or feeling; indifferent:
She was numb to their pleas for mercy.
verb (used with object)
5.
to make numb.
/nʌm/
adjective
1.
deprived of feeling through cold, shock, etc
2.
unable to move; paralysed
3.
characteristic of or resembling numbness: a numb sensation
verb (transitive)
4.
to make numb; deaden, shock, or paralyse
n.

1570s, from numb (adj.) + -ness.
adj.

c.1400, nome, “deprived of motion or feeling,” literally “taken, seized,” from past participle of nimen “to take, seize,” from Old English niman “to take, catch, grasp” (see nimble). The extraneous -b (to conform to comb, limb, etc.) appeared 17c. The notion is of being “taken” with palsy, shock, and especially cold. Figurative use from 1560s.
v.

1550s, from numb (adj.). Related: Numbed; numbing.

numb (nŭm)
adj.

v. numbed, numb·ing, numbs
To make or become numb.numb’ness n.

adjective

Stupid; unresponsive (1950s+)