puzzle
Language: English
Part of speech: verb
Pronunciation: enpr: pŭzʹəl
ipa: /ˈpʌzəl/
rhymes: -ʌzəl
Forms: form: puzzles
form: puzzling
form: puzzled
form: puzzled
Etymology: Origin uncertain; originally pusle. Possibly from pose (“to perplex, puzzle, interrogate”) + -le (frequentative suffix). The verb (1590s) “to perplex” seems to predate the noun “state of being perplexed” (circa 1600), “perplexing question” (1650s), “toy” (1814).
Senses: examples: text: Mens daily occaſions for themſelves or friends, and the neceſities of common life, require the doing of a thouſand things vvithin the compaſs of a fevv dayes, for vvhich it vvould puzzle the beſt Textman that liveth; readily to bethink himself of a ſentence in the Bible, clear enough to ſatisfie a ſcrupulous conſcience of the lavvfulneſs and expediency of vvhat he is about to do; […]
ref: 1634 September 1 (date delivered; Gregorian calendar), Robert Sanderson, “[Ad Clerum.] The Fourth Sermon. At a Metropolitical Visitation at Grantham, Lincoln, 22 August 1634.”, in XXXIV Sermons. […], 5th edition, London: […] [A. Clark] for A. Seil, and are to be sold by G. Sawbridge, […], published 1671, →OCLC, paragraph 15, page 65:
text: [H]e has a very ſmart VVit, and is a very ſhrevvd Diſputant in thoſe Points himſelf ſeems moſt puzzled in, and is therein very dexterous in puzzling others, if they be not thorough-paced Speculators in thoſe great Theories.
ref: 1668, Franciscus Euistor the Palæopolite [pseudonym; Henry More], “The First Dialogue”, in Divine Dialogues, Containing Sundry Disquisitions & Instructions Concerning the Attributes of God and His Providence in the World. […], London: […] James Flesher, →OCLC, paragraph II, page 7:
text: He is perpetually puzzled and perplexed amidst his own blunders.
ref: 1712 February 13 (Gregorian calendar), [Joseph Addison; Richard Steele et al.], “SATURDAY, February 2, 1711–1712”, in The Spectator, number 291; republished in Alexander Chalmers, editor, The Spectator; a New Edition, […], volume III, New York, N.Y.: D[aniel] Appleton & Company, 1853, →OCLC:
text: The case was that of a murder. It had an element of mystery about it, however, which was puzzling the authorities. A turban and loincloth soaked in blood had been found; also a staff.
ref: 1927, F. E. Penny, chapter 4, in Pulling the Strings:
text: When it comes to God’s existence, I’m not an atheist and I’m not an agnostic. I’m an acrostic. The whole thing puzzles me.
ref: 2004, George Carlin, When Will Jesus Bring the Pork Chops?, New York, N.Y.: Hyperion Books, →ISBN, page 261:
glosses: To perplex, confuse, or mystify; to cause (someone) to be faced with a mystery, without answers or an explanation.
examples: text: We puzzled over the curious-shaped lock, but were unable to discover how the key should be inserted.
glosses: To think long and carefully in bewilderment.
examples: text: The Ways of Heav’n are dark and intricate, / Puzzled in Mazes, and perplext with Errors; / Our Underſtanding traces ’em in vain, / Loſt and bewilder’d in the fruitleſs Search; […]
ref: 1712 (date written), [Joseph] Addison, Cato, a Tragedy. […], London: […] J[acob] Tonson, […], published 1713, →OCLC, Act I, scene i, page 2:
text: They disentangle from the puzzled skein.
ref: 1782–1785, William Cowper, “(please specify the page)”, in The Task, a Poem, […], London: […] J[oseph] Johnson; […], →OCLC:
glosses: To make intricate or difficult to resolve; to entangle.
Derived terms: word: puzzled
word: puzzle out
word: puzzle over
word: puzzler
word: puzzle through
word: puzzling
Related terms: puzzlement