/ əbˈtjuːs; NAmE -ˈtuːs/ adjective
( formal , disapproving ) slow or unwilling to understand sth :
Are you being deliberately obtuse?
► ob·tuse·ness noun [ U ]
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English (referring to something that is blunt): from Latin obtusus , past participle of obtundere beat against, from ob- against + tundere to beat.