Re: wave momentum

[Larry Smith <Larry.Smith@SNOW.EDU>]

At 11:17 AM -0700 3/11/1999, brian whatcott wrote:
> > in case
> > I'm being too obtuse.)
>
> I think 'abstruse' is the word you had in mind.
> Nobody claims you are less than acute!   :-)

See <http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/mweb> for the following definition (n.b.
definition 2b):

Main Entry: ob·tuse
Pronunciation: äb-'tüs, &b-, -'tyüs
Function: adjective
Inflected Form(s): ob·tus·er; -est
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin obtusus blunt, dull, from past
participle of obtundere to beat against, blunt, from ob- against + tundere
to beat -- more at OB-,
CONTUSION
Date: 15th century
1 a : not pointed or acute : BLUNT b (1) of an angle : exceeding 90 degrees
but less than 180 degrees (2) : having an obtuse angle <an obtuse triangle>
-- see TRIANGLE
illustration c of a leaf : rounded at the free end
2 a : lacking sharpness or quickness of sensibility or intellect :
INSENSITIVE, STUPID
b : difficult to comprehend : not clear or precise in thought or expression
synonym see DULL
- ob·tuse·ly adverb
- ob·tuse·ness noun

Larry