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Webster's Dictionary (1865)

3 entries under this word

Puzzle

Pŭz'zle, v. t.

verbtransitive

(pŭz'zl), v. t. [imp. & p. p. PUZZLED; p. pr. & vb. n. PUZZLING.] [L. Ger. pusseln. Cf. POSE.]

Sense 1. To perplex; to embarrass; to put to a stand; to nonplus.

A very shrewd disputant in those points is dexterous in puzzling others. More.

He is perpetually puzzled and perplexed amidst his own blunders. Addison.

Sense 2. To make intricate; to entangle.

The ways of Heaven are dark and intricate, Puzzled in mazes, and perplexed with error. Addison.

They disentangle from the puzzled skein . . . The threads of politic and shrewd design. Cooper.

Synonyms—To embarrass; perplex; confuse; bewilder; confound. See EMBARRASS.

Pŭz'zle, v. i.

verbintransitive

To be bewildered; to be awkward. “A puzzling fool, that heeds nothing.” L'Estrange.

Pŭz'zle, n.

noun

n. 1. Something which perplexes or embarrasses; especially, a toy or contrivance for puzzling, and so testing the ingenuity.

Sense 2. The state or condition of being puzzled; perplexity; as, to be in a puzzle.