bedevil

Verb

WordNet 3.0

treat cruelly“The children tormented the stuttering teacher”Synonyms: torment rag crucify dun frustrate
be confusing or perplexing to; cause to be unable to think clearly“These questions confuse even the experts”“This question completely threw me”“This question befuddled even the teacher”Synonyms: confuse throw fox befuddle fuddle confound discombobulate

Bedevil \Be*dev"il\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bedevilled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Bedeviling or Bedevilling.]

1.To throw into utter disorder and confusion, as if by the agency of evil spirits; to bring under diabolical influence; to torment. [1913 Webster]

Bedeviled and used worse than St. Bartholomew.— Sterne.[1913 Webster]

2.To spoil; to corrupt. --Wright. [1913 Webster]