numb

[nuhm]

adjective, numb·er, numb·est.

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.

verb (used with object)

to make numb.

Origin of numb

1400–50; late Middle English nome literally, taken, seized, variant of nomen, numen, Old English numen, past participle of niman to take, nim¹

Related formsnumb·ly, adverbnumb·ness, nounhalf-numb, adjectiveun·numbed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for numbly

Historical Examples of numbly

Numbly he recognized the countenances which were turned toward him.
Beyond the Black River
Robert E. Howard
Numbly the thought came to her of how long she had waited for this.
Rich Man, Poor Man
Maximilian Foster
Numbly they followed on—Dor and Jon and Jak and the two youngsters.
The Forgotten Planet
Murray Leinster
Her eyes vacant and numbly fixed, she rose slowly to her feet.
The Wolf Cub
Patrick Casey
A standby pattern lighted the screen, and I stared at it numbly.
Backlash
Winston Marks

British Dictionary definitions for numbly

numb

adjective

deprived of feeling through cold, shock, etc

unable to move; paralysed

characteristic of or resembling numbnessa numb sensation

verb (tr)

to make numb; deaden, shock, or paralyse

Derived Formsnumbly, adverbnumbness, noun

Word Origin for numb

C15: nomen, literally: taken (with paralysis), from Old English niman to take; related to Old Norse nema, Old High German niman

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

Word Origin and History for numbly

numb

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

numb

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.

Medicine definitions for numbly

numb

[nŭm]

adj.

Being unable or only partially able to feel sensation or pain; deadened or anesthetized.

Being emotionally unresponsive; indifferent.

v.

To make or become numb.