[syn: perplex, vex, stick, get, puzzle, mystify, baffle, beat, pose, bewilder, flummox, stupefy, nonplus, gravel, amaze, dumbfound]
2. be uncertain about; think about without fully understanding or being able to decide;
- Example: "We puzzled over her sudden departure"
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
puzzle \puz"zle\ (p[u^]z"z'l), n. [For opposal, in the sense of
problem. See Oppose, Pose, v.]
1. Something which perplexes or embarrasses; especially, a
toy or a problem contrived for testing ingenuity; also,
something exhibiting marvelous skill in making.
[1913 Webster]
2. The state of being puzzled; perplexity; as, to be in a
puzzle.
[1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
puzzle \puz"zle\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. puzzled (p[u^]z"z'ld);
p. pr. & vb. n. puzzling (p[u^]z"zl[i^]ng).]
1. To perplex; to confuse; to embarrass; to put to a stand;
to nonplus.
[1913 Webster]
A very shrewd disputant in those points is dexterous
in puzzling others. --Dr. H. More.
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He is perpetually puzzled and perplexed amidst his
own blunders. --Addison.
[1913 Webster]
2. To make intricate; to entangle.
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They disentangle from the puzzled skein. --Cowper.
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The ways of Heaven are dark and intricate,
Puzzled in mazes, and perplexed with error.
--Addison.
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3. To solve by ingenuity, as a puzzle; -- followed by out;
as, to puzzle out a mystery.
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Syn: To embarrass; perplex; confuse; bewilder; confound. See
Embarrass.
[1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Puzzle \Puz"zle\, v. i.
1. To be bewildered, or perplexed.
[1913 Webster]
A puzzling fool, that heeds nothing. --L'Estrange.
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2. To work, as at a puzzle; as, to puzzle over a problem.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
puzzle
n 1: a particularly baffling problem that is said to have a
correct solution; "he loved to solve chessmate puzzles";
"that's a real puzzler" [syn: puzzle, puzzler,
mystifier, teaser]
2: a game that tests your ingenuity
v 1: be a mystery or bewildering to; "This beats me!"; "Got me--
I don't know the answer!"; "a vexing problem"; "This
question really stuck me" [syn: perplex, vex, stick,
get, puzzle, mystify, baffle, beat, pose,
bewilder, flummox, stupefy, nonplus, gravel,
amaze, dumbfound]
2: be uncertain about; think about without fully understanding
or being able to decide; "We puzzled over her sudden
departure"