1. PIE root *nem- "divide, distribute, allot; take" (cf. Greek nemein "deal out," nemesis "just indignation," Latin numerus "number") => nim- "take, grasp, seize" => OE: niman "take, grasp, seize".
2. niman "take, grasp, seize" => nimen "take, grasp, seize" => 过去分词：nome => numb "deprived of motion or feeling," literally "taken, seized".
3. The extraneous -b (to conform to comb, limb, etc.) appeared 17c.
4. 因为被抓住而导致动弹不得，使用其比喻义。
5. 同源词：nim, numb, nimble.

numb 麻木的

来自古英语niman,拿，抓，来自PIE*nem,分配，分开，词源同number,nimble.比喻用法，失去感觉的，麻痹，中风，引申词义麻木的。

1. He could feel his fingers growing numb at their tips.

他能感到指尖正在变得麻木。

2. Numb with terror, she stared at the departing maraud-ers.

她吓得呆若木鸡，眼睁睁地看着劫匪们离去。

3. First he had been numb. Then the numbness gave way to anger.

起初他只是麻木，接着转为了愤怒。

4. My legs felt numb and my toes ached.

我双腿麻木，脚趾疼痛。

5. I was so shocked I went numb.

我太过震惊，呆若木鸡。