bə̇, bē+ transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English benomen, from benome, benomen (past participle of benimen to take away, deprive), from Old English benumen, past participle of beniman to take away, from be- + niman to take — more at nimble
1. : to make inactive : deaden , stupefy
a spirit of the blindest imitation … benumbed the intellectual faculties — Van Wyck Brooks
2. : to make numb especially by cold : deprive of sensation
the fearful cold that overtakes and benumbs the traveler — John Burroughs
Synonyms: see daze