mystify

mystify
mystification, n.mystifiedly, adv.mystifier, n.mystifyingly, adv.
/mis"teuh fuy'/, v.t., mystified, mystifying.
1. to perplex (a person) by playing upon the person's credulity; bewilder purposely.
2. to involve in mystery or obscurity.
[1805-15; < F mystifier, equiv. to mysti- (irreg. comb. form of mystique MYSTIC or mystère MYSTERY1) + -fier -FY]
Syn. 1. fool, mislead, elude, puzzle.

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  • Mystify — Cette page a été supprimée. Le journal des suppressions et des déplacements est affiché ci dessous pour référence. 9 octobre 2009 à 20:12 Chaoborus (discuter | contributions) a supprimé « Mystify » ‎ (Critères d'admissibilité non atteints :… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Mystify — Mys ti*fy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Mystified}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Mystifying}.] [F. mystifier, fr. Gr. ? + L. ficare (in comp.) to make. See 1st {Mystery}, and { fy}.] 1. To involve in mystery; to make obscure or difficult to understand; as, to… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • mystify — index confound, confuse (bewilder), delude, disorient, elude, equivocate, hoodwink, obfuscate …   Law dictionary

  • mystify — (v.) 1814, from Fr. mystifier (1772), a verb formed irregularly from mystique a mystic (see MYSTIC (Cf. mystic) (adj.)) + fier (see FY (Cf. fy)). Related: MYSTIFIED (Cf. Mystified); mystifying …   Etymology dictionary

  • mystify — bewilder, perplex, *puzzle, distract, nonplus, confound, dumbfound Analogous words: discomfit, faze, rattle, *embarrass: *discompose, disquiet, perturb, disturb, agitate, upset Antonyms: enlighten …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • mystify — [v] bewilder, confuse baffle, bamboozle*, beat*, befog*, buffalo*, confound, deceive, elude, escape, floor*, fog in*, hoodwink*, lick*, lie, perplex, puzzle, stump*, throw*, trick; concept 16 Ant. clear up, enlighten, explain, explicate …   New thesaurus

  • mystify — ► VERB (mystifies, mystified) 1) utterly bewilder. 2) make obscure or mysterious. DERIVATIVES mystification noun mystifying adjective. ORIGIN French mystifier, from mystique mystic or from mystère myst …   English terms dictionary

  • mystify — [mis′tə fī΄] vt. mystified, mystifying [Fr mystifier < mystère, mystery (< L mysterium) + fier, FY] 1. a) to puzzle or perplex b) to bewilder deliberately; play on the credulity of; hoax 2. to involve in mystery or obscurity; make obscure… …   English World dictionary

  • mystify — UK [ˈmɪstɪfaɪ] / US [ˈmɪstɪˌfaɪ] verb [transitive] Word forms mystify : present tense I/you/we/they mystify he/she/it mystifies present participle mystifying past tense mystified past participle mystified if someone or something mystifies you,… …   English dictionary

  • mystify — transitive verb ( fied; fying) Etymology: French mistifier, from mystère mystery, from Latin mysterium Date: 1814 1. to perplex the mind of ; bewilder 2. to make mysterious or obscure < mystify an interpretation of a prophecy > • mystifier …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • mystify — verb to thoroughly confuse, befuddle, or bewilder , Solar eclipses continued to mystify ancient humans for thousands of years. See Also: mysterious, mystery, mystic, mystical, mysticism …   Wiktionary

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