numb
- deprived of physical sensation or the ability to move: fingers numb with cold.
- manifesting or resembling numbness: a numb sensation.
- incapable of action or of feeling emotion; enervated; prostrate: numb with grief.
- lacking or deficient in emotion or feeling; indifferent: She was numb to their pleas for mercy.
- to make numb.
Origin of numb
Examples from the Web for numbly
Historical Examples of numbly
Numbly he recognized the countenances which were turned toward him.
Beyond the Black RiverRobert E. Howard
Numbly the thought came to her of how long she had waited for this.
Rich Man, Poor ManMaximilian Foster
Numbly they followed on—Dor and Jon and Jak and the two youngsters.
The Forgotten PlanetMurray Leinster
Her eyes vacant and numbly fixed, she rose slowly to her feet.
The Wolf CubPatrick Casey
A standby pattern lighted the screen, and I stared at it numbly.
BacklashWinston Marks
numb
- deprived of feeling through cold, shock, etc
- unable to move; paralysed
- characteristic of or resembling numbnessa numb sensation
- to make numb; deaden, shock, or paralyse
Word Origin for numb
Word Origin and History for numbly
numb
1550s, from numb (adj.). Related: Numbed; numbing.
numb
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.
numb
(nŭm)- Being unable or only partially able to feel sensation or pain; deadened or anesthetized.
- Being emotionally unresponsive; indifferent.
- To make or become numb.