mystify
verb /ˈmɪstɪfaɪ/
/ˈmɪstɪfaɪ/
[often passive]Verb Forms
| present simple I / you / we / they mystify | /ˈmɪstɪfaɪ/ /ˈmɪstɪfaɪ/ |
| he / she / it mystifies | /ˈmɪstɪfaɪz/ /ˈmɪstɪfaɪz/ |
| past simple mystified | /ˈmɪstɪfaɪd/ /ˈmɪstɪfaɪd/ |
| past participle mystified | /ˈmɪstɪfaɪd/ /ˈmɪstɪfaɪd/ |
| -ing form mystifying | /ˈmɪstɪfaɪɪŋ/ /ˈmɪstɪfaɪɪŋ/ |
- to make somebody confused because they do not understand something synonym baffle
- be mystified (by something) They were totally mystified by the girl's disappearance.
Extra Examples- I've always been mystified why private schools are called public schools.
- Staff were mystified as to how the thieves managed to get away with it.
- The popularity of the programme mystifies me.
Word Originearly 19th cent.: from French mystifier, formed irregularly from mystique ‘mystic’ or from mystère ‘mystery’.