confusionn.
/kənˈfjuːʒən/ 1.
a. Discomfiture, overthrow, ruin, destruction, perdition. ? Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > defeat > [noun]
confusionc1290
scomfit13..
cumber1303
discomfitc1330
scomfitingc1333
discomfiturea1400
scomfiturea1400
discomfitingc1405
overthrowc1440
male journey1455
overset1456
foilc1478
discomforture1485
supprise1488
reversea1529
distrage?1548
loss1548
defeat1553
underdeal1553
discomfort1589
defeatment1598
defeature1598
rufflec1600
defeatance1608
routa1616
Caudine Forks1619
disrout1623
conviction1631
bang1644
derout1644
conquest1677
drubbing1769
check1793
thrashing1797
sauve-qui-peut1815
debacle1847
smash1888
pasting1942
the world > action or operation > failure or lack of success > defeat or overthrow > [noun]
fallOE
confusionc1290
discomfiturea1400
castc1400
overthrowc1440
confoundinga1450
jeofail1546
prostitution1567
lurch1584
worsting1607
unhorsing1608
supplantation1617
defeat1676
overset1789
punishment1811
overthrowal1862
beating1883
unhorsement1884
whoop-ass1974
the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > [noun] > overthrow of a person, institution, belief, etc.
fallOE
confusionc1290
subversiona1325
overthrowingc1330
overturninga1398
downcasta1400
wrackc1400
downcastingc1425
eversionc1425
profligationc1475
demolitionc1550
overturec1555
wreck1577
overturnc1592
racking?1689
upsetting1827
subversal1843
demolishment1884
c1290 S. Eng. Leg. I. 195 Do þov þin owene confusion.
1303 R. Mannyng Handlyng Synne 1747 Seþþe, wonede þere a dragun, þat dede many man confusyun.
1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) v. 656 Had thai nocht beyn full of tresoune; Bot that maid thair confusioune [1489 Adv. confusioun].
a1513 R. Fabyan New Cronycles Eng. & Fraunce (1516) I. cxvi. f. liii Fredegunde..soughte many vnlefull meanes Howe she myght brynge to confusyon the thyrde Sone of hir Husbonde.
1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry IV f. xiiijv Kynge Richarde perceuyng them armed, knewe well that they came to his confusion.
1611 Bible (King James) Isa. xxxiv. 11 He shall stretch out vpon it the line of confusion, and the stones of emptinesse. View more context for this quotation
a1616 W. Shakespeare Macbeth (1623) iii. v. 29 As by the strength of their illusion, Shall draw him on to his Confusion . 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
1757 T. Gray Ode II i. i, in Odes 13 Ruin seize thee, ruthless King! Confusion on thy banners wait.
1788 J. Priestley Lect. Hist. i. iii. 30 The slavery of Greece, and..the confusion and slavery of Athens too.
b. A cause of overthrow or ruin. (Cf. ruin n. 7a.)
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > [noun] > overthrow of a person, institution, belief, etc. > a means or cause of
confusionc1385
wrack1579
c1385 G. Chaucer Legend Good Women Hypsipyle. 1365 Thow sly deuourere & confusioun Of tendere wemen.
1592 A. Day 2nd Pt. Eng. Secretorie sig. Q4, in Eng. Secretorie (rev. ed.) He being the sonne of a Christian..should so wickedly become the confusion of his bretheren.
c. as an imprecation or exclamation. (Cf. confound v. 2a.)
ΘΚΠ
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
1608 W. Shakespeare King Lear vii. 260 Vengeance, death, plague, confusion . View more context for this quotation
1768 O. Goldsmith Good Natur'd Man v. 61 Death! what's here!.. What can all this mean?.. Confusion.
1821 Ld. Byron Marino Faliero (2nd issue) iv. ii. 122 Confusion! Stand to your arms.
1842 S. Lover Handy Andy iii Drinking confusion to Handy Andy.
2. † b. Overthrow or discomfiture in argument; confutation. Obsolete.
a. Mental discomfiture, putting to shame.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > humility > feeling of shame > [noun] > abashment
confusion1340
bashmentc1400
abashingc1404
abashmentc1430
abashancea1450
abashednessc1480
discountenance1577
modesty1594
1340 R. Rolle Pricke of Conscience 5299 He sal shew, to þair confusioun, Alle þe signes of his passioun.
c1350 Early Compl. Eng. Prose Psalter (E.E.T.S.) xliii[i]. 17 Confusion of my face haþ couered me.
1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis I. 146 To sete some conclusion, Which shulde be confusion Unto this knight.
c1440 Promptorium Parvulorum 90 Confusyone or schame, confusio.
1535 Bible (Coverdale) Psalms xxx[i]. i In the, O Lorde, is my trust: let me neuer be put to confucion [1611 ashamed].
1653 H. Cogan tr. F. M. Pinto Voy. & Adventures lxi. 248 There will be nothing left you but a dreadfull confusion to humble you.
a1831 A. Knox Remains (1844) I. 65 They would find, to their confusion, that Gregory..was, what they..would call a Methodist.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > testing > refutation, disproof > [noun]
gainsayingc1330
assoilinga1382
improvingc1443
unprovingc1449
lancing1470
redarguation?c1500
confutationa1530
redargution1529
reproof1529
confusion1530
disproof1531
reprehension1531
reproving1535
refutation?1536
improbation1556
refuting1563
disproving1587
conviction1593
infringement1593
refutal1599
gainsay1602
eviction1606
convincement1612
disproval1614
confutinga1617
improof1641
confutement1645
confute1646
refute1646
disprovement1662
reviction1677
invalidatinga1716
invalidation1771
rebutment1823
rebuttal1831
disconfirmation1937
1530 Myroure Oure Ladye (Fawkes) (1873) iii. 312 To strength of oure faythe, and to confusyon of heretykes.
1538 King Henry VIII Answers to Latimer in J. Strype Eccl. Memorials (1721) I. App. 263 Is this a sufficient confusion of Purgatory, because he here..doth not mention Purgatory?
3. Mental perturbation or agitation such as prevents the full command of the faculties; embarrassment, perplexity, fluttered condition.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > perplexity, bewilderment > [noun]
mingingOE
riddleOE
cumbermentc1300
willa1325
encumbrancec1330
were1338
perplexitya1393
discomfiturea1425
cumbrancec1460
confuse1483
proplexity1487
perplexion?c1500
amazedness?1520
amazement1553
subversion1558
amaze?1560
perplexednessa1586
confusedness1587
puzzle1599
confusion1600
mizmaze1604
discomfita1616
embarras1627
obfuscation1628
mystery1629
confoundedness1641
puzzledness1662
confuseness1710
puzzlement1731
puzzledom1748
embarrassment1751
puzzleation1767
bepuzzlement1806
conjecture1815
mystification1817
bewilderment1819
perplexment1826
fuddle1827
wilderment1830
discomforture1832
head-scratching1832
baffle1843
posement1850
muddlement1857
turbidity1868
fogging1878
bemuddlement1884
harl1889
befuddlement1905
turbidness1906
wuzziness1942
perplexability1999
1600 W. Shakespeare Merchant of Venice iii. ii. 177 Maddam, you haue bereft me of all words..and there is such confusion in my powers. View more context for this quotation
1604 W. Shakespeare Hamlet iii. i. 2 An can you by no drift of conference Get from him why he puts on this confusion.
1611 T. Heywood Golden Age iii. sig. F2 What Monarch wrapt in my confusions, Can tell what patience meanes?
1726 W. R. Chetwood Voy. & Adventures Capt. R. Boyle 226 The Sight of me, I observ'd, gave the Woman some Confusion.
1768 O. Goldsmith Good Natur'd Man iii. 389 You amaze me. How shall I conceal my confusion?
1874 L. Carr Judith Gwynne I. ii. 62 Suffering under a revulsion of outraged modesty, and sweet confusions.
4. The action of confounding, confusing, or throwing into disorder: spec. in reference to the ‘confusion of tongues’ at the tower of Babel.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > order > disorder > confusion or disorder > [noun] > confusing or disordering
confusionc1400
plundering1642
pell-melling1792
jumbling1852
mess-making1881
c1400 Mandeville's Trav. (Roxb.) vi. 21 Þe grete Babilon, whare þe confusion of tunges was made.
a1464 J. Capgrave Abbreuiacion of Cron. (Cambr. Gg.4.12) (1983) 20 In þis tyme was þe Tour of Confusion mad.
1555 R. Eden in tr. Peter Martyr of Angleria Decades of Newe Worlde Pref. sig. bij Attemptynge lyke an other Nemroth to buylde a newe towre of confusion.
1605 F. Bacon Of Aduancem. Learning i. sig. H2 The first great iudgement of God vppon the ambition of man, was the confusion of tongues. View more context for this quotation
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost xii. 62 Thus was the building left Ridiculous, and the work Confusion nam'd. View more context for this quotation
1668 Bp. J. Wilkins Ess. Real Char. A ij b The Curse of the Confusion, with all the unhappy consequences of it.
5.
a. A confused or disordered condition; disorder.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > order > disorder > [noun]
derayc1300
disray13..
disordinancec1374
unordaininga1382
perturbationa1398
disarrayc1410
misordera1513
disorder1530
confusionc1540
mistemper1549
indisposition1598
ataxy1615
disordination1626
indigestion1630
tumble1634
discomposure1641
incomposure1644
dyscrasy1647
dislocation1659
disarrayment1661
disjuncture1683
rack and manger1687
rantum-scantum1695
derangement1737
disarrangement1790
misarray1810
havoc1812
unhingement1817
mingle-mangleness1827
bedevilment1843
higgledy-piggledyness1854
ramshackledom1897
inchoateness1976
c1540 Pilgrim's Tale 224 in F. Thynne Animaduersions (1875) App. i. 83 For there ruell is but confucion.
1576 A. Fleming tr. Cicero in Panoplie Epist. 91 In beholding desolate disorder and confusion.
1634 Proc. Star Chamber in S. R. Gardiner Documents Proc. against W. Prynne (1877) 18 Forme or order in his booke there is not any, it is all full of confusion.
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 121 The diff'ring Species in Confusion lie. View more context for this quotation
1772 Sheridan in Sheridaniana (1826) 39 The house was in such confusion it was impossible for him to go in.
1815 Duke of Wellington Dispatches (1838) XII. 482 The enemy..fled in the utmost confusion.
1856 J. A. Froude Hist. Eng. (1858) I. iii. 269 The meeting broke up in confusion.
b. In reference to ideas, notions, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > order > disorder > confusion or disorder > [noun]
brabbling1530
confusion1530
ruffle1533
pell-mellc1586
confusedness1587
huddle1606
Babel confusion1653
promiscuity1663
hugger-mugger1674
promiscuousness1676
clutter1692
jumblement1706
muddle1808
embranglement1826
mare's nest1837
muddlement1857
muddledom1891
muddliness1891
mêlée1895
mix-up1898
huddledom1923
buggeration1962
mixed-upness1967
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 354 That rule holdeth nat, for it shoulde engendre to moche confusyon.
a1538 T. Starkey Dial. Pole & Lupset (1989) 90 The lutheranys, wych are fallen in to many errorys & gret confusyon.
1765 W. Blackstone Comm. Laws Eng. I. i. i. 87 Both of which are equally productive of confusion.
1845 A. Polson in Encycl. Metrop. 732/1 The whole question is involved in much confusion.
1873 M. Arnold Lit. & Dogma i. 60 As we shall hereafter see, the confusion becomes worse confounded.
c. Confused condition of anything.
ΚΠ
1612 J. Brinsley Ludus Lit. xv. 199 A Synchesis, or a disordered confusion of their wordes.
1719 D. Defoe Life Robinson Crusoe 179 This Confusion of my Thoughts kept me waking.
1875 B. Jowett in tr. Plato Dialogues (ed. 2) V. 171 Out of intercourse with strangers there arises great confusion of manners.
d. with plural.
ΚΠ
1640 J. Shirley Coronation ii. sig. D2 I am circled with confusions Ile doe somewhat.
1722 D. Defoe Jrnl. Plague Year 148 Among such Confusions as I saw them in.
1847 R. W. Emerson Uses Great Men in Wks. (1906) I. 276 The geometer; the engineer; the musician..make an easy way for all, through unknown and impossible confusions.
e. quasi-concrete. A confused assemblage of. (rare.)
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > arrangement or fact of being arranged > absence of arrangement > [noun] > a disorderly collection
rabblea1398
hotchpotc1405
hotchpotchc1410
mishmashc1475
gaggle?1478
chaos?1550
humble-jumble1550
huddle1587
wilderness1594
lurry1607
hatterc1626
farragoa1637
bumble1648
higgledy-piggledy1659
jumble1661
clutter1666
hugger-mugger1674
litter1730
imbroglio1753
confusion1791
cludder1801
hurrah's nest1829
hotter1834
welter1857
muddle1863
splatter1895
shamble1926
1791 E. Inchbald Simple Story IV. x. 132 A confusion of persons assembling towards the apartment.
1835 J. Ross Narr. Second Voy. North-west Passage xxxix. 526 A confusion of piled blocks.
6.
Thesaurus »
a. Tumult, excited and disorderly commotion.
b. Civil commotion or disorder.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > lack of subjection > unruliness > disorder or riot > [noun]
riot1400
tumult1412
misgovernail?a1439
rout1439
revel1462
tumultuationc1475
stir1487
rangat?a1513
rangale1513
turmoil1526
ruffle1532
confusion1555
disorder1558
roaring1617
mayhem1976
1555 R. Eden tr. Peter Martyr of Angleria Decades of Newe Worlde ii. vi. f. 70v Leste shee shuld bee slayne in the confusion of the bataile.
1593 R. Hooker Of Lawes Eccl. Politie Pref. 14 God is not a God of sedition and confusion.
1611 Bible (King James) Acts xix. 29 And the whole citie was filled with confusion . View more context for this quotation
1791 E. Burke Let. to Member National Assembly 21 The King..interfered to save Holland from confusion.
1883 ‘G. Lloyd’ Ebb & Flow II. xx. 5 A crowd had already gathered round him, and the confusion was beyond words.
c. plural. Disorders, commotions.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > lack of subjection > unruliness > political unrest > [noun]
stirringa1154
motiona1387
troublec1435
misrule1442
commotion1471
stir1487
misgovernment1565
welteringa1586
confusions1599
distemper1605
distemperature?1606
convulsion1643
unsettlement1649
upturning1846
upturn1864
the natives are restless1950
the world > relative properties > order > disorder > confusion or disorder > commotion, disturbance, or disorder > [noun] > instance of
viretotec1386
moving?a1439
reela1450
stir1487
songa1500
pirrie1536
hurly-burly1548
make-a-do1575
confusions1599
the hunt is upa1625
ruffle1642
fuss1701
fraction1721
fizza1734
dust1753
noration1773
steeriea1776
splorea1791
rook1808
piece of work1810
curfuffle1813
squall1813
rookerya1820
stushie1824
shindy1829
shine1832
hurroosh1836
fustle1839
upsetting1847
shinty1848
ructions1862
vex1862
houp-la1870
set-out1875
hoodoo1876
tingle-tangle1880
shemozzle1885
take-on1893
dust-up1897
hoo-ha1931
tra-la-la1933
gefuffle1943
tzimmes1945
kerfuffle1946
1599 W. Shakespeare Romeo & Juliet iv. iv. 92 Peace ho for shame, confusions care liues not, In these confusions. View more context for this quotation
1662 Bk. Com. Prayer (1844) Pref. The late unhappy confusions.
1705 J. Addison Remarks Italy 8 Amidst all the Confusions of Europe.
1841 M. Elphinstone Hist. India II. ix. i. 273 Those confusions continued to rage without intermission till the year 1572.
7. † b. Fusion together. Obsolete. rare.
a. Mixture in which the distinction of the elements is lost by fusion, blending, or intimate intermingling.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > condition or state of being mixed or blended > [noun] > action or fact of mixing > through which distinctive elements are lost
confusionc1350
confoundinga1568
c1350 Early Compl. Eng. Prose Psalter 195 He is on in alle, nouȝt þurȝ confusion of substaunce, bot þurȝ onhede of persone.
1549 Bk. Common Prayer (STC 16267) Euensong f. vii One altogether, not by confusion of substaunce: but by vnitie of person.
1767 W. Blackstone Comm. Laws Eng. (new ed.) II. 405 In the case of confusion of goods, where those of two persons are so intermixed, that the several portions can be no longer distinguished.
1782 J. Priestley Hist. Corruptions Christianity I. i. 114 Without any change, confusion, or mixture of the two natures.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > condition or state of being combined > [noun] > coalescence or fusion
concretion1603
coalition1605
confusion?1608
coagulation1622
coalescence1652
concrement1656
fusion1776
coalescent1784
solution1820
intergrowtha1859
symphytism1871
fusing1886
?1608 S. Lennard tr. P. Charron Of Wisdome iii. vii. 434 Perfect friendship, which is a very free, plaine, and vniversall confusion of two soules... A confusion, not only a coniunction, & ioining together.
1617 J. Woodall Surgions Mate Termes 340 Confusion is properly a mixture of such liquid things as are fluid, and of one and the same nature.
8. The quality of being confused, indistinct, or obscure: said of objects of sensuous or mental attention.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > intelligibility > unintelligibility > depth, obscurity > [noun]
deepnessa1000
subtletya1387
difficultyc1405
mistiheadc1425
darknessc1450
obscurity1474
profoundnessc1475
obscureness1509
profundity1559
perplexity1563
opacity1575
darksomeness1583
perplexednessa1586
deptha1593
spinosity1605
abstruseness1628
abstrusity1649
inevidence1673
enigmaticalness1684
dark1699
indistinctness1704
confusion1729
reconditeness1779
obfuscity1832
oracularity1840
irrecognizability1847
recondity1856
unrecognizableness1865
crypticity1892
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > insecure knowledge, uncertainty > [noun] > unclear condition
obscurity1474
mist1532
cloud-lighta1536
indeterminateness1644
undistinction1647
indeterminacy1649
indistinction1651
undeterminateness1653
inestimability1678
undefinableness?1705
confusion1729
obnubilation1753
cloudiness1779
indistinctness1783
haze1790
haziness1796
vagueness1799
nebulosity1809
undefinednessa1832
undecidedness1897
indeterminism1928
fuzziness1973
smog1976
1729 Bp. J. Butler 15 Serm. (ed. 2) Pref. p. v Confusion and Perplexity in Writing is indeed without Excuse.
1753 W. Hogarth Anal. Beauty viii. 42 Confusion will be hereby avoided when the object is seen near.
9. The confounding or mistaking of one for another; failure to distinguish. Const. of (things), of one with another, between (things).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > judgement or decision > misjudgement > indiscriminateness > [noun]
indistinction1624
muddiness1645
indiscrimination1649
puddling1695
undiscerning1711
muddying1713
under-niceness1748
confusion1771
mixing1831
confounding1850
colour blindness1861
undiscriminatingness1866
muddling1873
indiscriminateness1879
unfastidiousness1881
indiscriminancy1890
lumping1903
1771 E. Burke Corr. (1844) I. 281 To prevent that confusion of distinct matters into which..I saw you inclined to run.
1862 J. Ruskin Munera Pulveris 29 The third error in the popular view is the confusion of Guardianship with Possession.
1885 E. Clodd Myths & Dreams i. vi. 105 That confusion between names and things which marks all primitive thinking.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1891; most recently modified version published online June 2021).
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