mystifyinglyadv.
/ˈmɪstᵻfʌɪɪŋli/, U.S. /ˈˌmɪstəˈˌfaɪɪŋli/ In a mystifying manner; so as to cause mystification; perplexingly, inexplicably.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > intelligibility > unintelligibility > inexplicableness > [adverb]
unaccomptibly1678
unaccountably1694
unexplainedly1811
undecipherably1847
unexplainably1899
inexplicably1903
mystifyingly1937
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > secrecy, concealment > a profound secret, mystery > [adverb]
dighenlichec893
diȝelichec1200
darklyc1350
mysteriously1486
mystically1509
in (a) mystery1526
abstrusely1611
cryptically1663
oracularly1771
occultly1793
pokerishly1854
mystifically1880
sophically1888
sphinxily1889
mystifyingly1937
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > perplexity, bewilderment > act of perplexing > [adverb]
confusively1599
confoundingly1667
perplexingly1795
embarrassingly1817
distractively1834
bewilderingly1838
distractingly1842
confusingly1863
bafflingly1879
mystifyingly1937
1937 Amer. Hist. Rev. 43 132 One of his own subordinates..was systematically betraying the whole affair to the Germans, so that hints of the truth soon appeared mystifyingly in the Berliner Tageblatt.
1953 in B. A. Botkin & A. F. Harlow Treas. Railroad Folklore 508 The Delaware and Hudson came tooling up from Pennsylvania with what it mystifyingly called ‘Standard gauge; 6 foot and 4 foot, 3 inches’.
1973 Daily Tel. 2 Mar. 15/2 The Wrath of God..would seem to parody that novel, mystifyingly, I would say, to most people.
1995 Guardian 11 Mar. (Weekend Suppl.) 38/1 His supporters will persist in applauding the man's admirable Down to Earthness—a character trait held in mystifyingly high esteem.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2003; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adv.1937