α. 1600s empuzle, 1600s–1700s empuzzel, 1800s empuzzle.
β. 1600s impuzle.
† empuzzlev.
Obsolete (rare after early 18th cent.).
transitive. To puzzle.
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
1646 Sir T. Browne Pseudodoxia Epidemica i. i. 1 It hath empuzzeled the enquiries of others..to make out how, etc. View more context for this quotation
1649 W. Charleton in tr. J. B. van Helmont Ternary of Paradoxes sig. c4v Abstrusity sufficient to empuzle the scrutiny of the most daring and Eagle-eyed Philosophy.
1714 R. Burridge Hist. Rise & Growth Schism 81 To promote which Apprehensions or empuzzel their due Conceptions.
1894 Nation 8 Mar. 181/1 One of those enigmas with which Milton loved to empuzzle his readers.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2014; most recently modified version published online December 2020).
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