Maze

Maze Maze (m[=a]z), n. [OE. mase; cf. OE. masen to confuse, puzzle, Norweg. masast to fall into a slumber, masa to be continually busy, prate, chatter, Icel. masa to chatter, dial. Sw. masa to bask, be slow, work slowly and lazily, mas slow, lazy.] 1. A wild fancy; a confused notion. [Obs.] --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]

2. Confusion of thought; perplexity; uncertainty; state of bewilderment. [1913 Webster]

3. A confusing and baffling network, as of paths or passages; an intricacy; a labyrinth. ``Quaint mazes on the wanton green.'' --Shak. [1913 Webster]

Or down the tempting maze of Shawford brook. --Wordaworth. [1913 Webster]

The ways of Heaven are dark and intricate, Puzzled with mazes, and perplexed with error. --Addison. [1913 Webster]

4. A complex and confusing system or set of rules that causes bwilderment; as, a maze of environemntal regulations. [PJC]

Syn: Labyrinth; intricacy. See {Labyrinth}. [1913 Webster]