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Definitions for: Perplex
[v] be a mystery or bewildering to; "This beats me!"; "Got me--I don't know the answer!"; "a vexing problem"
[v] make more complicated; "There was a new development that complicated the matter"
Webster (1913) Definition: Per*plex", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Perplexed; p. pr. &
vb. n. Perplexing.] [L. perplexari. See Perplex, a.]
1. To involve; to entangle; to make intricate or complicated,
and difficult to be unraveled or understood; as, to
perplex one with doubts.
No artful wildness to perplex the scene. --Pope.
What was thought obscure, perplexed, and too hard
for our weak parts, will lie open to the
understanding in a fair view. --Locke.
2. To embarrass; to puzzle; to distract; to bewilder; to
confuse; to trouble with ambiguity, suspense, or anxiety.
``Perplexd beyond self-explication.'' --Shak.
We are perplexed, but not in despair. --2 Cor. iv.
8.
We can distinguish no general truths, or at least
shall be apt to perplex the mind. --Locke.
3. To plague; to vex; to tormen. --Glanvill.
Syn: To entangle; involve; complicate; embarrass; puzzle;
bewilder; confuse; distract. See Embarrass.
Per*plex", a. [L. perplexus entangled, intricate; per
+ plectere, plexum, to plait, braid: cf. F. perplexe. See
Per-, and Plait.]
Intricate; difficult. [Obs.] --Glanvill.
Synonyms: amaze, baffle, beat, bewilder, complicate, dumbfound, flummox, get, gravel, mystify, nonplus, pose, puzzle, stupefy, vex
Antonyms: simplify
See Also: alter, bedevil, befuddle, change, complexify, confound, confuse, discombobulate, elude, embrangle, escape, figure out, fox, fuddle, lick, mix up, puzzle out, puzzle over, riddle, snarl, snarl up, solve, stagger, stump, throw, work, work out
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