Definition

1. Verb:
   • To administer an anesthetic drug to a person or animal, causing a loss of sensation or consciousness, typically for a medical or surgical procedure. This is the primary and most common meaning. The action renders the subject insensible to pain.

Usage

• The verb anaesthetise is used in medical and veterinary contexts. It is a transitive verb, requiring a direct object (the patient or a specific body part).
• It describes the professional act performed by an anesthesiologist, nurse anesthetist, dentist, or veterinarian.
• The spelling anaesthetise is standard in British English. The American English spelling is anesthetize.

Examples

• Verb:
  • The surgeon will anaesthetise the patient before making the incision.
  • The dentist had to anaesthetise the area around the tooth before starting the root canal.
  • It is crucial to properly anaesthetise the animal for its own safety and comfort during the procedure.

Advanced Usage

• Metaphorical/Figurative Use: In non-medical contexts, anaesthetise can be used figuratively to mean to dull feelings, awareness, or sensitivity.
  • The constant noise of the city had anaesthetised her to the sounds of traffic.
  • He tried to anaesthetise his grief with work.

Variants and Related Words

• Anaesthetist (noun, British English): A medical specialist who administers anesthetics. (US: Anesthesiologist).
• Anaesthesia (noun, British English): The state of insensitivity to pain, especially as induced before surgery. (US: Anesthesia).
• Anaesthetic (noun/adjective, British English): A drug that causes anesthesia; relating to anesthesia. (US: Anesthetic).
  • The anaesthetic took effect quickly. (noun)
  • She is an anaesthetic nurse. (adjective)
• Anesthetize (verb): The American English spelling of anaesthetise.

Synonyms

• Sedate: To administer a sedative drug to calm a patient, which may be a step in anesthesia but does not always imply complete insensibility.
• Numb: To cause a loss of sensation, often used for local effects (e.g., a cream to numb the skin).
• Desensitize: To make less sensitive, often used in emotional or psychological contexts, similar to the figurative use of anaesthetise.

Phrasal Verbs/Related Constructions

• To put under (anaesthesia): A common phrasal construction meaning to anaesthetise someone.
  • The patient was put under general anaesthesia for the operation.

Verb

1. administer an anesthetic drug to
   • The patient must be anesthetized before the operation
   • anesthetize the gum before extracting the teeth