perplex









perplex


perplex [per-pleks] SynonymsExamplesWord Origin verb (used with object)

  1. to cause to be puzzled or bewildered over what is not understood or certain; confuse mentally: Her strange response perplexed me.
  2. to make complicated or confused, as a matter or question.
  3. to hamper with complications, confusion, or uncertainty.

Origin of perplex First recorded in 1585–95; back formation from perplexed Related formsper·plex·er, nounper·plex·ing·ly, adverbun·per·plex·ing, adjectiveSynonyms for perplex 1. mystify, confound. 2. tangle, snarl. 3. vex, annoy, bother. Examples from the Web for perplexingly Contemporary Examples of perplexingly

  • Yet, perplexingly, in many cases, imposing sanctions is perceived to be sufficient to address a complex problem.

    Why Aren’t Sanctions Stopping Putin?

    Meghan L. O’Sullivan

    May 13, 2014

  • Historical Examples of perplexingly

  • Nearly all women are perplexingly interesting as human beings.

    I, Mary MacLane

    Mary MacLane

  • Papa was looking almost as perplexingly young as she, and I made up the little party to the number of the Graces.

    Willing to Die

    Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu

  • That evidence, as it now lies before us, is perplexingly various both in content and quality.

    Human Personality and its Survival of Bodily Death

    Frederick W. H. Myers

  • Cecil rounded one of his perplexingly empty sentences and turned on his heel.

    Beauchamp’s Career, Complete

    George Meredith

  • Certainly, few people were ever more fortunately, or perplexingly placed, than I am just now.

    Gladys, the Reaper

    Anne Beale

  • British Dictionary definitions for perplexingly perplex verb (tr)

    1. to puzzle; bewilder; confuse
    2. to complicateto perplex an issue

    Word Origin for perplex C15: from obsolete perplex (adj) intricate, from Latin perplexus entangled, from per- (thoroughly) + plectere to entwine Word Origin and History for perplexingly perplex v.

    late 14c. as an adjective, “perplexed, puzzled, bewildered,” from Latin perplexus “involved, confused, intricate;” but Latin had no corresponding verb *perplectere. The Latin compound would be per “through” (see per) + plexus “entangled,” past participle of plectere “to twine, braid, fold” (see complex (adj.)).

    The form of the English adjective shifted to perplexed by late 15c., probably to conform to other past participle adjectives. The verb is latest attested of the group, in 1590s, evidently a back-formation from the adjective. Related: Perplexing, which well describes the history of the word.

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