I. adjective
also an·aes·thet·ic |anə̇s|thed.ik, -etik, -ēk
Etymology: Greek anaisthētos without sense or feeling, unfelt, imperceptible (from an- + aisthētos sensible, perceptible, from aisthanesthai to perceive, feel) + English -ic — more at audible
1.
a. : capable of producing anesthesia
anesthetic agents
b. : involving or connected with anesthesia
anesthetic effect
anesthetic symptoms
2.
a. : lacking perceptive sensitiveness
the young girls are in a state of possession, blind, deaf, and anesthetic — Joyce Cary
b. : obtuse — used with to
persons anesthetic to new ideas
• anes·thet·i·cal·ly adverb
II. noun
also anaesthetic “
( -s )
1. : a substance that produces anesthesia
2. : something that brings relief (as from pain, worry, uneasiness) : palliative
Vienna's most effective mass anesthetic against our time is the coffeehouse — Frederic Morton