heb·e·tude \-əˌtüd, -ə.ˌtyüd\noun (-s) Etymology: Late Latin hebetudo, from hebēre to be dull + -tudo -tude; akin to Latin hebes dull : the absence of mental alertness or physical sensitivity : dullness, lethargy < her natural hebetude must disgust him and eventually destroy all affection — Hugh McCrae > • heb·e·tu·di·nous\| ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷| ̷ ̷(ə)nəs\adjective