puzzling

puzzling
puzzle puz"zle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {puzzled} (p[u^]z"z'ld); p. pr. & vb. n. {puzzling} (p[u^]z"zl[i^]ng).] 1. To perplex; to confuse; to embarrass; to put to a stand; to nonplus. [1913 Webster]

A very shrewd disputant in those points is dexterous in puzzling others. --Dr. H. More. [1913 Webster]

He is perpetually puzzled and perplexed amidst his own blunders. --Addison. [1913 Webster]

2. To make intricate; to entangle. [1913 Webster]

They disentangle from the puzzled skein. --Cowper. [1913 Webster]

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

3. To solve by ingenuity, as a puzzle; -- followed by out; as, to puzzle out a mystery. [1913 Webster]

Syn: To embarrass; perplex; confuse; bewilder; confound. See {Embarrass}. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • puzzling — [adj] confusing abstruse, ambiguous, baffling, bewildering, beyond one, difficult, enigmatic, hard, incomprehensible, inexplicable, involved, knotty, labyrinthine, misleading, mystifying, obscure, perplexing, surprising, unaccountable, unclear,… …   New thesaurus

  • puzzling — adj. 1) puzzling to (her behavior was puzzling to everybody) 2) puzzling that + inf. (it was puzzling that he went straight home) * * * [ pʌzlɪŋ] puzzling to (her behavior was puzzling to everybody) puzzling that + inf. (it was puzzling that he… …   Combinatory dictionary

  • puzzling — puz|zling [ˈpʌzlıŋ] adj confusing and difficult to understand or explain ▪ a puzzling fact ▪ Gary found her reaction puzzling …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • puzzling — adjective Date: circa 1659 difficult to understand or solve < puzzling symptoms > • puzzlingly adverb …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • puzzling — puzzlingly, adv. /puz ling/, adj. 1. confusing or baffling: a puzzling answer. n. 2. the skill or pastime of constructing or working crossword or other puzzles. [1590 1600; PUZZLE + ING2] * * * …   Universalium

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  • puzzling — puz|zling [ pʌzlıŋ ] adjective confusing or difficult to understand or solve: That was the most puzzling aspect of the whole affair …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • puzzling — adjective confusing and difficult to understand or explain: The children showed a puzzling lack of curiosity about the new baby …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • puzzling — adjective confusing and difficult to understand or explain: The children showed a puzzling lack of curiosity about the new baby …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

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