Verdoofd

Verdoofd is a Dutch adjective and the past participle of the verb verdoven. It describes a state in which sensation is suppressed or dulled. This can be physical, as after anesthesia, or figurative, as a mental daze caused by shock, intoxication, or strong emotions.

In medical contexts, verdoving refers to the act of numbing a part of the body; the patient is verdoofd when the sensation is removed. The term is common in dentistry and surgery. Numbness can persist for minutes or hours depending on the anesthetic used.

As an adjective, verdoofd agrees with the noun: de verdoofde patiënt, een verdoofd gevoel. In predicative use one might say: De patiënt is verdoofd. The word is also used metaphorically: verdoofd van verdriet, verdoofd door de stilte.

Etymology: verdoofd comes from verdoven, with prefix ver- added to doven (to dull or extinguish). The sense is to remove sensation or awareness from a person or area of the body.