bemuse

English

WOTD – 14 May 2008

Etymology

From be- + muse. In meaning, influenced by bemaze.

Pronunciation

  • (UK, US) IPA(key): /bɪˈmjuːz/, /bəˈmjuːz/
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Verb

bemuse (third-person singular simple present bemuses, present participle bemusing, simple past and past participle bemused)

  1. (transitive) To confuse or bewilder.
    • 1735, Alexander Pope, Satires of Dr. Donne versified
      a parson much be-mus'd in beer
    • 1771, James Foot, Penseroso
      [With] fairy tales bemused the shepherd lies.
    • 1847, Hugh Miller, First Impressions of England and its people
      the bad metaphysics with which they bemuse themselves
  2. (archaic, humorous) To devote to the Muses.
    • 1705, Alexander Pope, Letters
      When those incorrigible things, Poets, are once irrecoverably Be-mus'd

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