benumb, benumbe (b silent), benome, benam

t. & i. [Eng. prefix be, and numb; A.S. benumen, pa. par. of beniman =to deprive, to take away. From prefix be, and nim an = to take away; Ger. benehmen = to take away.] A. Transitive: 1. Literally: (1) To render torpid; to deprive a portion of the body of sensation by the application of cold, by impeding the free circulation of the blood, or in any other way. *(2) To cause to look as if torpidity of circulation existed; to render pallid. "Her heart does quake, and deadly pallied hew Benumbes her cheekes. Spenser: F. Q., VL. viil. 40. 2. Figuratively: To deaden, to render torpid the intellect, the emotions, or the will. "There are some feelings time cannot benumb ." Byron Childe Harold, iv. 19. B. Intransitive : To make numb. If the objective, which is implied, were expre ed, it would become transitive. if the sleepy drench Of that forgetful lake benumb not still." Milton: P. L., bk. ff. IMG:content-1237.png:[blocks in formation]