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Webster 1913 Edition

Perplex

Per-plex′

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Perplexed
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Perplexing
.]
[L.
perplexari
. See
Perplex
,
Adj.
]
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 torment.
Glanvill.
Syn. – To entangle; involve; complicate; embarrass; puzzle; bewilder; confuse; distract. See
Embarrass
.

Per-plex′

,
Adj.
[L.
perplexus
entangled, intricate;
per + plectere
,
plexum
, to plait, braid: cf. F.
perplexe
. See
Per-
, and
Plait
.]
Intricate; difficult.
[Obs.]
Glanvill.

Webster 1828 Edition

Perplex

PERPLEX'

,
Verb.
T.
[L. perplexus, perplexor; per and plector, to twist; L. plico, to fold.]
1.
To make intricate; to involve; to entangle; to make complicated and difficult to be understood or unraveled.
What was thought obscure,perplexed and too hard for our weak parts, will lie open to the understanding in a fair view.
2.
To embarrass; to puzzle; to distract; to tease with suspense, anxiety or ambiguity.
We can distinguish no general truths, or at least shall be apt to perplex the mind.
We are perplexed, but not in despair. 2 Cor. 4.
3.
To plague; to vex.

PERPLEX'

,
Adj.
Intricate; difficult. [Not used.]

Definition 2024

perplex

perplex

English

Verb

perplex ‎(third-person singular simple present perplexes, present participle perplexing, simple past and past participle perplexed)

  1. (transitive) To cause to feel baffled; to puzzle.
  2. (transitive) To involve; to entangle; to make intricate or complicated.
    • John Locke
      What was thought obscure, perplexed, and too hard for our weak parts, will lie open to the understanding in a fair view.
  3. (transitive, obsolete) To plague; to vex; to torment.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Glanvill to this entry?)

Synonyms

  • See also Wikisaurus:confuse

Related terms

Translations

Adjective

perplex ‎(comparative more perplex, superlative most perplex)

  1. (obsolete) intricate; difficult
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Glanvill to this entry?)

External links

  • perplex in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
  • perplex in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
  • perplex at OneLook Dictionary Search

Etymology

From Old French, from Latin perplexus ‎(“entangled, confused”), from per ‎(“through”) + plexus, perfect passive participle of plectō ‎(“plait, weave, braid”).

Pronunciation

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