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callous

/ˈkæləs/

Meanings
  • adjective

    lacking feeling or concern; hard-hearted.

    - "He was callous towards the suffering of others."
    - "Despite her friend's pleas for help, he remained callous."
  • adjective

    insensitive to touch; hard or thick.

    - "The bottom of his feet were calloused from years of farming."
    - "The calloused hands of the stone mason."

Synonyms

heartless , insensitive
Rhymes
Words rhyming with callous
pallus , mallus , gallus , allus , wallus
Variants
List of all variants of callous that leads to same result
callous , callously , callousness , callousnesses , calloused , callouses , callousing
Etymology
origin and the way in which meanings have changed throughout history.

From Middle English calus, calouse, from Latin callosus, having a rough surface, shaggy, hairy.


Trivia
Any details, considerations, events or pieces of information regarding the word
  1. The term 'callous' is derived from the Latin word callosus, meaning 'having a rough surface'.

  2. Calluses are thickened areas of skin that form as a response to repeated friction or pressure, such as from wearing ill-fitting shoes or playing a musical instrument.


Related Concepts
informations on related concepts or terms closely associated with the word. Discuss semantic fields or domains that the word belongs to
  1. insensitivity: A lack of sensitivity or responsiveness to the feelings, needs, or experiences of others.

  2. apathy: A lack of emotion, interest, or concern.

  3. insensible: Unconscious or unaware, as well as lacking sensitivity or feeling.


Quotes
Quotes by authors and personalities
  1. Patient, cold and "callous", our hands wrapped in socks, we waited to snowball the cats.

    - Dylan Thomas,"A Child's Christmas in Wales",{"source"=>"in {it}Quite Early One Morning{/it}", "aqdate"=>"1954"}
  2. … under Orton's own companionable charm there was something hard and "callous", the result no doubt of a loveless upbringing …

    - Benedict Nightingale,{it}New York Times Book Review{/it},10 May 1987
  3. … the scenes involving the snotty, "callous" dean ring false right from the start …

    - Pauline Kael,{it}New Yorker{/it},8 Apr. 1985

Culture
Any cultural, historical, or symbolic significance of the word. Explore how the word has been used in literature, art, music, or other forms of expression.

In literature, the term 'callous' is often used to describe characters who lack empathy or compassion, such as the protagonist in Fyodor Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment.

How to Memorize "callous"

  1. visualize

    - Visualize a person with a hardened heart, unwilling to show compassion or concern.

  2. associate

    - Associate the word 'callous' with insensitivity and hard-heartedness.

  3. mnemonics

    - Remember the 'C' in callous stands for 'Cold-hearted'.

🧠 Bonus Tips

To help you remember the word 'callous', follow these practical tricks with steps:

1. Break it down: The word 'callous' can be broken down into two parts - 'call' and 'ous'. 'Call' is a common word that means to summon or to officially request someone to come, while 'ous' is a suffix that means 'full of' or 'having the nature or quality of'. So, 'callous' can be thought of as being 'full of calls' or having the nature of calls.

2. Associate with a word that sounds similar: The word 'callous' sounds similar to the word 'calculus', which is a branch of mathematics that deals with limits, functions, derivatives, integrals, and infinite series. Calculus is often considered a difficult subject, and people who study it may come across as being 'hardened' or 'unfeeling' towards math problems. Similarly, a 'callous' person can be thought of as someone who is 'hardened' or 'unfeeling' towards other people's feelings.

3. Create a vivid image: Imagine a person who is so focused on their calculus problems that they have become 'callous' or indifferent to the needs of others around them. They are so absorbed in their work that they don't even notice when someone is calling out to them for help. This image can help you remember the meaning and spelling of 'callous'.

4. Practice spelling: Finally, practice spelling the word 'callous' out loud or write it down several times to help reinforce the spelling in your memory.


Memorize "callous" using Dictozo

The best and recommended way to memorize callous is, by using Dictozo. Just save the word in Dictozo extension and let the app handle the rest. It enhances the memorization process in two ways:

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