confoundv.
/kənˈfaʊnd/, U.S. /kənˈfaʊnd/ 1. † c. To destroy the purity, beauty, or usefulness of; to spoil, corrupt. Obsolete.† d. To demolish, smash. Obsolete. rare.† e. To waste, consume, spend. Obsolete.
a. transitive. To defeat utterly, discomfit, bring to ruin, destroy, overthrow, rout, bring to nought (an adversary). Obsolete or archaic.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > victory > make victorious [verb (transitive)] > conquer or overcome
overcomeeOE
shendc893
awinc1000
overwinOE
overheaveOE
to lay downa1225
mate?c1225
discomfitc1230
win1297
dauntc1300
cumber1303
scomfit1303
fenkc1320
to bear downc1330
confoundc1330
confusec1330
to do, put arrear1330
oversetc1330
vanquishc1330
conquerc1374
overthrowc1375
oppressc1380
outfighta1382
to put downa1382
discomfortc1384
threshc1384
vencuea1400
depressc1400
venque?1402
ding?a1425
cumrayc1425
to put to (also at, unto) the (also one's) worsec1425
to bring or put to (or unto) utterance1430
distrussc1430
supprisec1440
ascomfita1450
to do stress?c1450
victorya1470
to make (win) a conquest1477
convanquish1483
conquest1485
defeat1485
oversailc1485
conques1488
discomfish1488
fulyie1488
distress1489
overpress1489
cravent1490
utter?1533
to give (a person) the overthrow1536
debel1542
convince1548
foil1548
out-war1548
profligate1548
proflige?c1550
expugnate1568
expugn1570
victor1576
dismay1596
damnify1598
triumph1605
convict1607
overman1609
thrash1609
beat1611
debellate1611
import1624
to cut to (or in) pieces1632
maitrise1636
worst1636
forcea1641
outfight1650
outgeneral1767
to cut up1803
smash1813
slosh1890
ream1918
hammer1948
the world > action or operation > prosperity > success > mastery or superiority > have or gain mastery or superiority over [verb (transitive)] > overcome or overwhelm > completely or overthrow
shrenchc897
allayOE
fellOE
quellOE
to bring to the groundc1175
forlesec1200
to lay downa1225
acastc1225
accumberc1275
cumber1303
confoundc1330
overthrowc1375
cumrayc1425
overquell?c1450
overwhelvec1450
to nip in (also by, on) the head (also neck, pate)?a1500
prostrate1531
quash1556
couch1577
unhorse1577
prosternate1593
overbeata1616
unchariot1715
floor1828
quench1841
to knock over1853
fling1889
to throw down1890
steamroller1912
wipe1972
zonk1973
c1330 R. Mannyng Chron. (1810) 170 Wilde fire þei kast, þe kyng to confound.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 7982 [David] Thoght on his fas philistiens..Gladli walde he þam confund [Fairf. confounde].
?a1400 Morte Arth. 1153 Allas! we are lorne, my lorde es confundede, Over fallene with a fende!
1570 J. Dee in H. Billingsley tr. Euclid Elements Geom. Math. Præf. sig. dj Archimedes..vtterly confounded the Romaine Nauye.
1572 (a1500) Taill of Rauf Coilȝear (1882) 875 Thow art ane Sarazine..For to confound our Christin men, that counteris sa kene.
1631 J. Taylor Sudden Turn Fortunes Wheel in Wks. (1848) 22 Sloops, punts, and lighters seventy-eight confounded, Six thousand men ta'en prisoners, many wounded.
1650 T. Fuller Pisgah-sight of Palestine iii. 331 [Sennacherib] having all his Army soon after confounded from heaven.
1796 R. Southey Joan of Arc i. 73 Lest He in wrath confound me.
b. To overthrow, defeat, or bring to nought (a scheme, plan, hope, etc.).
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > difficulty > hindrance > hindering completely or preventing > hinder completely or prevent [verb (transitive)] > thwart or foil
false?c1225
confoundc1315
blenk?a1400
matea1400
interrupt1464
blench1485
fruster?a1513
frustrate?a1513
infatuate1533
disappoint1545
prevent1555
foila1564
blank1566
thwart1581
confute1589
dispurpose1607
shorten1608
foola1616
vain1628
balk1635
throwa1650
scotch1654
bafflea1674
crossbar1680
transverse1770
tomahawk1773
throttle1825
wreck1855
stultify1865
derail1889
to pull the plug1923
rank1924
c1315 Shoreham 112 Wanne love hys here preye, Al for to confundy.
1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis I. 13 Every werke as it is founded Shall stonde, or elles be confounded.
1552 Bk. Common Prayer (STC 16279) Letany sig. .viiv Confounde their deuises.
c1740 Carey God save King ii Confound their politicks, Frustrate their knavish tricks, On him our hopes are fix'd, O save us all!
1850 F. D. Maurice Moral & Metaphysical Philos. (ed. 2) I. i. §1. 6 God confounded the rebellious scheme.
1890 R. Garnett Life Milton ii. 42 The Civil War confounded his [Milton's] anticipations of leisurely composition.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > damage > damage or injure [verb (transitive)] > in purity, beauty, etc.
strait1390
confoundc1420
quench1926
c1420 Pallad. on Husb. iii. 815 Of peres wyne is made..Yit somer wol it soure and so confounde.
1548 Hall's Vnion: Edward IV f. cxcv By this mariage, the quenes bloud was confounded.
1681 Arraignm.,Tryal & Condemnation S. Colledge 71 You have confounded the Gospel.
1744 R. North & M. North Life Sir D. North & Rev. J. North 163 Their Smoak and Dust..confounded all his good Furniture.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > breaking or cracking > break [verb (transitive)] > break down, demolish, or ruin
spillc950
fellOE
to cast downc1230
destroy1297
to turn up?c1335
to throw down1340
to ding downc1380
to break downa1382
subverta1382
underturn1382
to take downc1384
falla1400
to make (a building, etc.) plain (with the earth)a1400
voida1400
brittenc1400
to burst downc1440
to pull downc1450
pluck1481
tumble1487
wreck1510
defacea1513
confound1523
raze1523
arase1530
to beat downc1540
ruinate1548
demolish1560
plane1562
to shovel down1563
race?1567
ruin1585
rape1597
unwall1598
to bluster down16..
raise1603
level1614
debolish1615
unbuilda1616
to make smooth work of1616
slight1640
to knock down1776
squabash1822
collapse1883
to turn over1897
mash1924
rubble1945
to take apart1978
1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles I. cccxcvii. 687 Bearynge great malettes of yron and stele, to confounde helmes.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > spending time > spend time or allow time to pass [verb (transitive)] > waste time
leese?c1225
losea1340
defer1382
wastea1400
slip1435
consumea1500
superexpend1513
slow?1522
sloth1523
to fode forth1525
slack1548
dree1584
sleuth1584
confound1598
spenda1604
to fret out1608
to spin out1608
misplace1609
spend1614
tavern1628
devast1632
to drill away, on, outa1656
dulla1682
to dally away1685
squander1693
to linger awaya1704
dangle1727
dawdle1768
slim1812
diddle1826
to run out the clock1957
the mind > possession > relinquishing > squandering or prodigality > squander [verb (transitive)]
forspendc893
scatter1154
dispend1303
waste1340
misspendc1390
miswastec1400
consumec1425
waste1474
profund1527
lasha1535
prodige1538
lavish1542
to play away1562
riot1566
embezzle1578
dilapidate1590
squander1593
confound1598
to make ducks and drakes of or withc1600
prodigalize1611
profuse1611
squander1611
paddle1616
bezzle1617
to run out of ——1622
to piss away1628
prodigal1628
decoct1629
to bangle (away)1632
debauch1632
deboise1632
to fribble away1633
to fool out1635
to run outa1640
to fiddle away1667
slattera1681
dissipate1682
to play off1693
duck-and-drake1700
liquidate1702
sparkle away1703
waster1821
befool1861
to frivol away1866
to play (at) duck and drake with1872
to fling away1873
mislive1887
slather1904
mucker1928
profligate1938
peter1956
spaff2002
1598 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 1 i. iii. 99 He did confound the best part of an houre, In changing hardiment with great Glendower. View more context for this quotation
1701 W. Wotton Hist. Rome 399 His very Prodigality alone would have confounded more Money in a few Years than the whole Roman Empire could have..supply'd.
2.
a. In curses or imprecations, used in the imperative 3rd person singular as an equivalent or substitute for ‘bring to perdition’. Since 1700 considered a milder form of imprecation, and vaguely associated with other senses.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > malediction > oaths > [verb (transitive)] > oaths other than religious or obscene
confoundc1330
founda1382
hanga1400
whip1609
rat1691
fire1730
repique1760
curse1761
blow1781
blister1840
sugar1886
the mind > language > malediction > oaths > [interjection] > oaths other than religious or obscene > imprecations
woeOE
dahetc1290
confoundc1330
foul (also shame) fall ——c1330
sorrow on——c1330
in the wanianda1352
wildfirea1375
evil theedomc1386
a pestilence on (also upon)c1390
woe betide you (also him, her, etc.)c1390
maldathaita1400
murrainc1400
out ona1415
in the wild waning worldc1485
vengeance?a1500
in a wanion1549
with a wanion1549
woe worth1553
a plague on——a1566
with a wanion to?c1570
with a wanyand1570
bot1584
maugre1590
poxa1592
death1593
rot1594
rot on1595
cancro1597
pax1604
pize on (also upon)1605
vild1605
peascod1606
cargo1607
confusion1608
perditiona1616
(a) pest upon1632
deuce1651
stap my vitals1697
strike me blind, dumb, lucky (if, but—)1697
stop my vitals1699
split me (or my windpipe)1700
rabbit1701
consume1756
capot me!1760
nick me!1760
weary set1788
rats1816
bad cess to1859
curse1885
hanged1887
buggeration1964
c1330 R. Mannyng Chron. (1810) 265 Wales wo þe be! þe fende þe confound!
1490 W. Caxton tr. Foure Sonnes of Aymon (1885) ix. 223 God confounde me yf I sawe ever ony evyll doon by hym.
c1515 Ld. Berners tr. Bk. Duke Huon of Burdeux (1882–7) liii. 180 A, false faynted hert, Mahounde confounde the!
a1616 W. Shakespeare Timon of Athens (1623) i. i. 242 Traffickes thy God, & thy God confound thee. View more context for this quotation
a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 1 (1623) iv. i. 123 Confounded be your strife, And perish ye with your audacious prate. View more context for this quotation
1649 O. Cromwell Let. 17 Sept. (Carlyle) One of them was heard to say..‘God damn me, God confound me; I burn, I burn.’
1773 O. Goldsmith She stoops to Conquer ii. 28 Confound your made dishes... I'm for plain eating.
1773 O. Goldsmith She stoops to Conquer iv. 79 Whether the next be an izzard, or an R, confound me, I cannot tell.
1836 F. Marryat Mr. Midshipman Easy II. ii. 56 Why, confound the fellow..so you were a pick-pocket, were you?
1888 J. Payn Myst. Mirbridge I. x ‘Confound her impudence’, muttered Sir Richard.
1890 W. Besant Demoniac vi Humph! You are looking in very good health, at any rate. Confound you!
b. transitive. To say ‘confound’ with regard to (something).
ΚΠ
1879 F. R. Stockton Rudder Grange ii. 22 Again and again I confounded—as far as mental ejaculations could do it—his suggestions.
3. † b. To discomfit in argument, silence, confute (a person, or a statement, opinion, etc.). Obsolete.
a. To discomfit, abash, put to shame, ashame. (Almost always in passive.) Chiefly Scriptural.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > humility > feeling of shame > shame [verb (transitive)] > embarrass
confoundc1290
blue1699
embarrass1751
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disrepute > disgrace or dishonour > [verb (transitive)] > put to shame
shendc825
ofshameOE
forlesec1200
to bring, shape, turn to shamea1250
to put to shamea1250
confoundc1290
confusec1350
rebuke1529
beshame?1567
disgrace1593
outshame1824
c1290 S. Eng. Legendary I. 249/307 Ich habbe i-hoped þat ich i-confundet ne beo.
a1340 R. Rolle Psalter xv. 1 Here is þe vile pride of men confoundid.
1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) 2 Sam. xix. 5 Thou hast confoundid to day the cheeris of alle thi servauntis.
1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) Ps. xxx[i]. 1 In thee, Lord, I hopide; I shal not be confoundid in to withouten ende [1611 let me neuer be ashamed].
a1535 Bp. J. Fisher Wks. 402 O my god I am confounden and ashamed to lyft vp my face vnto thee.
1579 E. Spenser Shepheardes Cal. June 63 They drewe abacke, as halfe with shame confound.
1609 Bible (Douay) I. 2 Sam. x. 5 The men were confounded very fowly, and David commanded them: Tary in Jericho, til your beard be growen.
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost ix. 1064 Silent, and in face Confounded long they sate, as struck'n mute. View more context for this quotation
1874 C. Kingsley Westm. Serm. vii. 71 What is this which the Psalmist and prophets call being confounded; being put to shame and confusion of face?
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > testing > refutation, disproof > refute, disprove [verb (transitive)]
answerOE
bitavelena1225
allayc1275
confoundc1384
concludea1400
conclusea1400
forblenda1400
gainsaya1400
rejag1402
to bear downc1405
redarguea1425
repugn?a1425
reverse?c1430
improvec1443
reprovea1513
dissolve1529
revince1529
convince1530
confute1533
refel1534
refute1545
void1570
evict1583
infringe1590
reprehend1597
revert1598
evince1608
repel1613
to take off1618
unbubblea1640
invalid1643
invalidate1649
remove1652
retund1653
effronta1657
dispute1659
unreason1661
have1680
demolish1691
to blow sky-high1819
c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Deeds ix. 22 Forsothe Saul..confoundide the Jewis that dwelliden at Damask, affermynge for this is Crist.
1483 W. Caxton tr. J. de Voragine Golden Legende 276/2 Seynt Augustyn was..ryght appert in confundyng heretykes.
a1555 N. Ridley Wks. (1841) 16 The plain words of St. Paul, which doth manifestly confound this fantastical invention.
1726 tr. J. Cavalier Mem. Wars Cevennes i. 10 She would dispute..with the Missionaries..and would often confound them.
4. † b. To confuse in the brain with liquor. Obsolete.
a. To throw into confusion of mind or feelings; so to surprise and confuse (a person) that he loses for the moment his presence of mind, and discernment what to do. (Expressed colloquially by dumfound, flabbergast, etc.)
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > perplexity, bewilderment > act of perplexing > confuse, perplex, bewilder [verb (transitive)]
abobc1330
confusec1350
confoundc1374
cumbera1375
passc1384
maskerc1400
mopc1425
enose1430
manga1450
overmusec1460
perplex1477
maze1482
enmuse1502
ruffle?a1505
unsteady1532
entangle1540
duddle1548
intricate1548
distraught1579
distract1582
mizzle1583
moider1587
amuse1595
mist1598
bepuzzle1599
gravel1601
plunder1601
puzzle1603
intrigue1612
vexa1613
metagrobolize?a1616
befumea1618
fuddle1617
crucify1621
bumfiddlea1625
implicate1625
giddify1628
wilder1642
buzzlea1644
empuzzle1646
dunce1649
addle1652
meander1652
emberlucock1653
flounder1654
study1654
disorient1655
embarrass?1656
essome1660
embrangle1664
jumble1668
dunt1672
muse1673
clutter1685
emblustricate1693
fluster1720
disorientate1728
obfuscate1729
fickle1736
flustrate1797
unharmonize1797
mystify1806
maffle1811
boggle1835
unballast1836
stomber1841
throw1844
serpentine1850
unbalance1856
tickle1865
fog1872
bumfuzzle1878
wander1897
to put off1909
defeat1914
dither1919
befuddle1926
ungear1931
to screw up1941
c1374 G. Chaucer tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. v. iii. 154 Now am I confounded by a more harde doute þan I was.
1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis I. 146 What straunge mater he might use The knightes wittes to confounde.
a1555 N. Ridley Wks. (1841) 5 Many things confound the weak memory.
1611 Bible (King James) Acts ii. 6 The multitude..were confounded, because that euery man heard them speake in his owne language. View more context for this quotation
1682 N. O. tr. N. Boileau-Despréaux Lutrin iv. 95 Pale and dumb he stood, like one confounded.
1752 S. Johnson Rambler No. 195. ⁋3 He was..so confounded by incessant noise, and crowds, and hurry.
1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. II. 593 The tidings of the flight reached London. The king's adherents were confounded.
1859 C. Darwin Origin of Species vi. 174 This difficulty for a long time quite confounded me.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > drink > thirst > excess in drinking > [verb (transitive)] > make drunk
fordrenchc1000
indrunkena1300
mazec1390
distemper1491
whittle1530
swill1548
inebriate1555
disguise1560
intoxicatea1566
tipple1566
overtake1577
betipple1581
seethe1599
fuddlec1600
fox1611
wound1613
cupa1616
fuzzle1621
to gild overa1625
sousea1625
tip1637
tosticate1650
drunkify1664
muddle1668
tipsy1673
sop1682
fuzz1685
confound1705
mellowa1761
prime1788
lush1821
soak1826
touch1833
rosin1877
befuddle1887
slew1888
lush1927
wipe1972
1705 F. Fuller Medicina Gymnastica 65 Some strong People shall be confounded with a very few Glasses of Wine.
5. To throw (things) into confusion or disorder; = confuse v. 3.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > order > disorder > confusion or disorder > confuse or disorder [verb (transitive)]
disparplea1400
rufflea1400
mingle-mangle1549
confound1553
jumblea1575
barbulye1588
Babelize1600
embroil1603
puddlea1616
confuse1630
jargogle1692
mishmash1694
to make a mull of1821
inturbidatea1834
bedevil1844
to ball up1884
jazz1914
scramble1927
balls1947
1553 R. Eden tr. S. Münster Treat. Newe India sig. Kiiij He found all thinges confounded and out of ordre.
1611 Bible (King James) Gen. xi. 7 Let vs go downe, and there confound their language. View more context for this quotation
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost ii. 996 With ruin upon ruin, rout on rout, Confusion worse confounded . View more context for this quotation
1712 T. Hearne Remarks & Coll. (1889) III. 363 Wanley quite confounded the Library, and put all things into Disorder.
1883 J. A. Froude Short Stud. IV. ii. v. 230 He believed that Newman's methods of reasoning confounded his perceptions of truth.
6. To mix up or mingle so that the elements become difficult to distinguish or impossible to separate; = confuse v. 4.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > condition or state of being mixed or blended > mix or blend [verb (transitive)] > through which distinctive elements are lost
confounda1538
confuse1550
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > perplexity, bewilderment > act of perplexing > confuse, perplex, bewilder [verb (transitive)] > confuse parts
confounda1538
confuse1550
mix1667
a1538 T. Starkey Dial. Pole & Lupset (1989) 74 You schal..confunde the nobyllys & the commynys togeddur..that ther schalbe no dyfferens betwyx the one & the other.
1597 W. Shakespeare Richard II iv. i. 132 Tumultuous warres, Shall kin with kin, and kinde with kind confound . View more context for this quotation
1658 J. Rowland tr. T. Moffett Theater of Insects in Topsell's Hist. Four-footed Beasts (rev. ed.) 917 The fourth..is gathered and confounded from all these trees, so that it hath a mixt color..and consistence.
1779 S. Johnson Let. 23 June (1992) III. 174 I came by it [the money] in a very uncommon manner, and would not confound it with the rest.
1863 C. Lyell Geol. Evid. Antiq. Man 2 The remains..may have subsequently been mingled..and confounded together in one and the same deposit.
7. To mix up in idea, erroneously regard or treat as identical, fail to distinguish; = confuse v. 5.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > judgement or decision > misjudgement > indiscriminateness > fail to distinguish or confuse [verb (transitive)]
confound1581
muddy1604
blunder1676
blend1780
to mix upa1806
muddle1836
confuse1862
1581 W. Lambarde Eirenarcha ii. xvii. 140 At an Affray, Assault, or Batterie (for now I will confounde those names).
1610 A. Cooke Pope Joane in Harl. Misc. (1809) IV. 46 This man seemeth to confound him with Benedict the Third.
1683 T. Robinson in J. Ray Corr. (1848) 133 Saying that you confounded the two species together.
1807 G. Chalmers Caledonia I. i. i. 7 To confound the Celts with the Scythians.
1874 J. R. Green Short Hist. Eng. People viii. §2. 467 He [James] chose to confound Puritanism with Presbyterianism.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1891; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
<
v.c1290- to pull a funny face
- to pull a garbo
- to pull a moody
- to pull a number
- to pull a person by the ear
- to pull a person by the etc
- to pull a person by the nose
- to pull a person by the sleeve
- to pull a person's card
- to pull a person's chain
- to pull a person's coat
- to pull a person's leg
- to pull a person's pisser
- to pull a person's plonker
- to pull a pigeon
- to pull a plover
- to pull a rabbit out of a hat
- to pull a rat
- to pull a rock
- to pull a stroke
- to pull a swiftie
- to pull a train
- to pull a whitey
- to pull about
- to pull an all-nighter