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hebetate

American  
[heb-i-teyt] / ˈhɛb ɪˌteɪt /

verb (used with object)

hebetated, hebetating

  1. to make dull or blunt.

hebetate British  
/ ˈhɛbɪˌteɪt /

adjective

  1. (of plant parts) having a blunt or soft point

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. rare to make or become blunted

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • hebetation noun
  • hebetative adjective

Etymology

Origin of hebetate

1565–75; < Latin hebetātus made dull or blunt (past participle of hebetāre ), equivalent to hebet- (stem of hebes ) blunt, dull + -ātus -ate 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

It can beget bigotry, breed hypocrisy or hebetate affections.

From Bushido, the Soul of Japan by Nitobe, Inazo

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.