1. Relating to or resembling anesthesia.
2. Causing anesthesia.
3. Insensitive.

1. An agent that causes loss of sensation with or without the loss of consciousness.
2. Something likened to this in effect: For some people watching television is an anesthetic for the mind.

[From Greek anaisthētos, without feeling : an-, without; see a-¹ + aisthētos, perceptible (from aisthanesthai, to feel; see anesthesia).]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.