Emily Dickinson Lexicon

NUMB, a. [num; Sax. numen, the participle of Sax. niman, Goth. niman, to take, to seize, whence beniman or benyman, to deprive; benum, benumen, stupefied, that is, seized, arrested, held, stopped; D. neemen; G. nehmen. Class Nm, No. 7, 9.]

1. Torpid; destitute of the power of sensation and motion; as, the fingers or limbs are numb with cold.
2. Producing numbness; benumbing; as, the numb cold night. [Not used nor proper.] Shak.