mazefuladj.
/ˈmeɪzf(ᵿ)l/, U.S. /ˈmeɪzfəl/ Now archaic.
Bewildering, confusing.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > perplexity, bewilderment > act of perplexing > [adjective]
maskinga1387
maskeringc1400
mazingc1449
mazefula1586
perplexing1585
distraughtful1594
confounding1595
confusive1611
perplexful1618
distracting1632
distractive1633
perplexivea1637
obstupefying1660
perplexitivea1665
posing1666
distractious1667
nonplussing1670
umbraging1683
gravelling1686
embarrassing1691
wildering1742
distractful1746
staggering1769
baffling1783
bewildering1792
head-scratching1827
mystifyingc1827
mystificatory1830
riddlesome1843
confusing1846
a1586 Sir P. Sidney Astrophel & Stella xcvi, in Arcadia (1598) 564 In both a mazefull solitarinesse.
1595 E. Spenser Epithalamion in Amoretti & Epithalamion sig. H And stand astonisht lyke to those which red Medusaes mazeful hed.
1616 J. Lane Contin. Squire's Tale (Douce 170) (1888) i. iv. 45 The people..soone awaye rann all..but soone the stead sord highe and out of sight, leavinge them weepinge, in a mazefull plight.
1897 F. Thompson New Poems 3 It was a mazeful wonder.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2001; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.a1586