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. 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

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

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