Discuss callous here.

adjective

1) Literally: Having the skin or outer covering hardened; indurated.

“In progress of time, the ulcers became sinuous and callous, with induration of the glands.” - Wiseman

2) Figuratively: Unfeeling; hardened in feeling.

” . . . duped into the belief that divine grace had touched the most false and callous of human hearts.” - Macaulay

[French calleux = thick or hard-skinned; Latin callosus, from callus, callum = a hard skin; calleo = to have a hard or thick skin.]

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Which of the two words (callus, callous) would one use when speaking of something like: The boy became so _______watching videos/games that his mind became hardwired
for crime.  (Not a belief of mine, just an example.

LukeJavan8 - 18 January 2009 11:41 AM

Which of the two words (callus, callous) would one use when speaking of something like: The boy became so _______watching videos/games that his mind became hardwired for crime.

That would be callous, the adjective.  Callus is the noun (= area of hardened skin).

Until this topic hit, I had no idea of the word ‘callus’. Thanks ACB.