Deprived of the power of sensation; unable to feel or having reduced feeling in a part of the body.
From Middle English 'nome,' meaning 'taken' or 'seized,' from Old English 'niman' meaning 'to take.' The sense evolved from being 'taken away' by cold or pressure to the modern meaning of lacking sensation.
The word 'numb' shares its ancient root with 'nimble,' creating a fascinating paradox where the same linguistic ancestor gave us both complete stillness and quick movement. This shows how language can evolve in completely opposite directions from the same starting point.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.