1. past tense and past participle of anesthetise; to administer an anesthetic to (a person or animal) in order to prevent pain during surgery or a medical procedure
Usage: British spelling; American English uses 'anesthetized'; medical/clinical context
2. to make insensitive or unresponsive to something; to dull the senses or emotions
Usage: figurative use

Examples

• The patient was anesthetised before the surgical procedure began.
• The dentist anesthetised the area around the tooth before filling the cavity.
• Years of exposure to violence had anesthetised him to suffering.
• The constant stream of bad news seemed to have anesthetised the public's concern.
• She was anesthetised with a local anesthetic for the minor operation.
• The medication anesthetised the pain in his injured leg.