bemuse

Definition

To confuse or bewilder.

Etymology

From be- + muse. In meaning, influenced by bemaze and later amuse.

Example Sentences

• "[With] fairy tales bemused the shepherd lies."
• "the bad metaphysics with which they bemuse themselves"
• "With regard to definition-writing students, as a result of having spent years padding out written assignments in order to meet word-length requirements, were somewhat bemused to be told that fewer words were better than a long, wordy definition."