- obtuse
- 1509, from M.Fr. obtus (fem. obtuse), from L. obtusus "blunted, dull," pp. of obtundere "to beat against, make dull," from ob "against" + tundere "to beat," from PIE *(s)tud- "to beat, strike, push, thrust" (cf. L. tudes "hammer," Skt. tudati "he thrusts"). Sense of "stupid" is first found 1509. The verb obtund (trans.) "to render dead, make dull" has occasionally been used, esp. in medical jargon, since c.1400.