dull (adj.) Copy link Outline I. Of colours, opp. to bright1. hĕbes, ĕtis2. rĕmissus3. surdus4. languĭdusII. Of cutting instruments, not sharpIII. Of sounds, low, heavyIV. Of the sky or weather, overcastV. Of the mind, wanting quickness of perception1. tardus2. hĕbes, ĕtis3. obtūsus (esp. used of sightVI. Uninteresting, wanting life or freshness1. frīgĭdus2. insulsus (lit. insipidVII. In low spirits • dull (adj.): I. Of colours, opp. to bright: 1. hĕbes, ĕtis: a d. colour, color h., Ov.: Plin.: an eye naturally d., h. naturâ oculus, Plin. 2. rĕmissus: a somewhat d. colour, color remissior, Sen. N. Q. 1, 1, 6: a d.er kind of carbuncle, remissior carbunculus, Plin. 3. surdus: a d. colour, s. color., Plin. 4. languĭdus: v. faint. See also dim. II. Of cutting instruments, not sharp: hĕbes: v. blunt. III. Of sounds, low, heavy: Phr.: a d. murmur, caecum murmur, Virg.: d. (heavy) blows, surdi ictus, Plin.: Quint. IV. Of the sky or weather, overcast: nūbĭlus, subnūbĭlus, cālīgĭnōsus: v. cloudy, dark. V. Of the mind, wanting quickness of perception: 1. tardus: a d. mind, t. ingenium, Cic.: naturally somewhat d., naturâ tardior, Cic. Join: (sensus) hebetes, tardi, pingues, Cic. 2. hĕbes, ĕtis: somewhat d. ears, keen eyes, aures hebetiores, oculos acres et acuti, Cic.: a d. mind, h. ingenium, Cic.: v. stupid. 3. obtūsus (esp. used of sight: v. dim): to be of naturally d. mind, ob. ingenio esse, Gell.: Cic. Phr.: to render d. hebetare (v. foll. art.): to grow d., hebescere, Cic.: d. at love's work, frigidus in Venerem, Virg. VI. Uninteresting, wanting life or freshness: 1. frīgĭdus: d., forced jokes, f. et arcessiti joci, Suet.: Cic.: d. business, f. negotia, Plin. Ep. 2. insulsus (lit. insipid: q. v.): Cic. is fond of using the word with a negative: a kind of jest that is by no means d., non ins. genus (ridiculi), de Or. 2, 64, 259: a d. fellow, *ins. caput: v. fellow. VII. In low spirits: tristis, subtristis; animo demisso, fracto: v. sad, melancholy, dejected. Miscell. Phr.: a d. market, *mercatus infrequens (ill-attended), frigidior (cf. supr. VI., 1): Caesar had met with a d. reception, Caesar mortuo plausu venerat, Cic.
dull (v.) Copy link Outline I. To take off the brightness ofII. To take off the edge or keenness of1. hĕbĕto, 12. obtundo, stŭpĕfăcio, 3 • dull (v.): I. To take off the brightness of: obscūro, hĕbĕto, 1: v. to dim, sully. II. To take off the edge or keenness of: 1. hĕbĕto, 1: v. to blunt. 2. obtundo, stŭpĕfăcio, 3: v. to deaden.
DULL Copy link • DULL 1. adj., hebetatus, retusus, obtusus (all PROP. and figuratively): obstupefactus (figuratively of the mind): hebes (of the eyes and understanding; also of pain): tardus (slow, of the intellect; also, tardus ad discendum): caligans (not clear, of the eyes): nubilus, nebulosus, or caliginosus (cloudy, dies, Plin.): subnubilus (Caes.): languidus, languens (without power or life; hence also of color, life, look, voice, etc.): iners (sluggish, of the eyes, looks, voice, pain, etc.): frigidus (cold; e.g., thoughts): stupidus: stupore oppressus (not in the full possession of one’s senses): dull gold, aurum non politum: a dull color, color languidus, lentus (not bright or lively), hebes (Ov., Plin.): color dilutus (washy): color nubilus, or surdus (clouded, dull; Plin.): to become dull, languescere, evanescere: to be dull, hebere or obtusa esse acie (PROP.; to be blunt): languere, frigere (e.g., of conversation): caligare (of the eyes): a dull yellow, languescens in lutum color (Plin.): a dull noise, murmur caecum (Verg.). To be dull of hearing, aures hebetes habere (Cic.): to make or render d. the eyes, the senses, hebetare sensum oculorum, sensus: a dull understanding, obtusior animi acies or vigor. Not exhilarating, taedium, or satietatem, afferens; odiosus; molestus; gravis (Cic.); insuavis (Cic.). Drowsy, sopitus; semisomnus; somniculosus (Cic.). Sad, tristis; moestus; moerens (Cic.). 2. v. TRANS. To stupefy, stupefacere (Liv.); stolidum, or insulsum, facere; hebetem reddere. To blunt, hebetare, retundere, obtundere (to deprive of sharpness by beating, pushing, etc., PROP. and figuratively): to dull the ears (Spens.), aures obtundere, aures hebetare: to dull the mind with (Ascham), mentem, ingenium obtundere: to dull the intellect, mentis mucronem retundere, by daily use, quotidiana pugna, (Quint., 10, 5, 16): to dull one’s self for anything, hebetare atque indurare aliquem ad aliquid. To sadden, contristare; tristitia afficere; moerore conficere; moestitiam afferre (Cic.). To weaken, debilitare; frangere; imminuere; lenire; mitigare; infirmare (Cic.). To damp, tardare; remittere; relaxare (Cic.). To make weary, lassare; fatigare; defatigare (Cic.). To sully brightness, rei nitorem obscurare, infuscare, exstinguere (Cic.): maculare (Nep.).