I.v. inch. n. [hebeo], to grow blunt, dull, dim, or faint (rare but class.).
I. Lit.: “acumina (gladiorum) densis ictibus hebescebant,” Amm. 16, 12, 54: “hebescunt sensus, membra torpent,” Plin. 7, 50, 51, § 168: “hebescebant (oculi),” Suet. Tib. 68: “berylli hebescunt,” Plin. 37, 5, 20, § 76: “hebescere sidera,” Tac. A. 1, 30: “hebescere dextras,” Sil. 8, 19.—
II. Trop.: “sic mentis acies se ipsam intuens nonnumquam hebescit,” Cic. Tusc. 1, 30, 73; cf.: “nos vicesimum jam diem patimur hebescere aciem horum auctoritatis,” id. Cat. 1, 2, 4: “nosmetipsos hebescere et languere nolumus,” id. Ac. 2, 2, 6; cf.: “illi per fastidium et contumaciam hebescunt,” Tac. H. 2, 77: “hebescere virtus, paupertas probro haberi coepit,” Sall. C. 12, 1.
