retund. verb. To weaken or diminish. To repress, repel or refute. To drive back. From classical Latin retundere (to dull, blunt, repress, quell), from post-classical Latin (to refute).
“How then might shield, or breast-plate, or close mail Retund its edge?” (Robert Southey)
“…the air being variously impregnated, sometimes more and sometimes less, with vapours and exhalations fitted to retund and intercept the rays of light…” (George Berkeley)
“[The skull] is covered with skin and hair, which serve … to quench and dissipate the force of any stroke that shall be dealt it, and retund the edge of any weapon.” (John Ray)