Bluntings

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

  1. The act or process of making an edge or point less sharp or less intense; the condition of being made dull or less effective; a physical or figurative reduction in sharpness or clarity
  2. The process of reducing the sharpness or effectiveness of a tool or a sensation; a state where something is less pointed or keen; diminishing acuity or clarity in a physical or metaphorical sense
  3. The action of dulling a cutting edge or point; a decrease in intensity or vividness of perception or feeling; the resulting condition of something becoming less distinct or less sharp in impact

Etymology: The root of this noun lies in the adjective “blunt,” which emerged in English during the late Middle Ages, around the 14th century. Originally, “blunt” described something dull or having a thick edge, especially referring to weapons or tools that lacked a sharp point. The word likely traces back to Old Norse "blundr," meaning a short sleep or dullness, which metaphorically extended to objects lacking sharpness or keen edges. Over time, “blunt” expanded beyond its literal sense to describe speech or manners that were straightforward, sometimes to the point of rudeness, reflecting the idea of lacking a “sharp” or refined edge. This figurative use became common by the 17th century. From this adjective, the noun form emerged to denote acts or instances of making something blunt or duller — these are the “bluntings.” Although not a frequently encountered form, it follows the English pattern of turning adjectives into nouns by adding a suffix to indicate the process or result. The suffix “-ing” originally comes from Old English and was used to form present participles and gerunds, but it also gave rise to nouns expressing actions or results. In this case, “blunting” refers to the act of dulling or making less sharp. The plural “bluntings” would thus naturally refer to multiple occasions or effects of this process. While the noun is somewhat rare and specialized, its formation aligns with a broader pattern in English where descriptive adjectives become action or result nouns to express processes or changes, especially in technical or literary contexts. This term would typically be used in contexts discussing changes in material sharpness or metaphorically describing a reduction in intensity or acuity.

Synonyms: dullings, roundings

Antonyms: sharpenings, pointings