Obtusest: meaning, definitions and examples
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obtusest
[ əbˈtjus ]
intellectual capability
Obtuse refers to a lack of sharpness or quickness of understanding. It describes someone who is slow to comprehend things or dull in perception. This term is often used in a figurative sense to denote a person who is not very bright or is insensitive to nuances. Despite its negative connotation, being obtuse can sometimes imply a lack of awareness rather than actual stupidity.
Synonyms
blunt, dull, ignorant, stupid.
Examples of usage
- He's too obtuse to realize the joke.
- Her obtuse comments baffled the group.
- The obtuse student struggled with algebra.
Etymology
The word obtuse comes from the Latin 'obtusus', which means 'blunt' or 'dull'. This term is the past participle of 'obtundere', meaning 'to beat down' or 'to lessen', combining the prefix 'ob-' which means 'against' and 'tundere', meaning 'to beat'. It was introduced into English in the late Middle Ages and has evolved in usage from a physical description—often framing objects that are not sharp—to a figurative description of mental sharpness. The concept is prominent in geometry, where an 'obtuse angle' identifies an angle greater than 90 degrees but less than 180 degrees, further solidifying the idea of bluntness or dullness associated with the term.