Cal"lous (?), a. [L. callosus callous hard, fr. callum, callus, callous skin: cf. F. calleux.]

1.

Hardenes; indurated.

"A callous hand." Goldsmith. "A callous ulcer." Dunglison.

2.

Hardened in mind; insensible; unfeeling; unsusceptible.

"The callous diplomatist."

Macaulay.

It is an immense blessing to be perfectly callous to ridicule. T. Arnold.

Syn. -- Obdurate; hard; hardened; indurated; insensible; unfeeling; unsusceptible. See Obdurate.

-- Cal"lous*ly, adv. -- Cal"lous*ness, n.

A callousness and numbness of soul. Bentley.

 

© Webster 1913.