befuddle

befuddle
befuddle (v.) "confuse," 1873, from BE- (Cf. be-) + FUDDLE (Cf. fuddle). Originally to confuse with strong drink or opium (by 1832). An earlier word in the same sense was begunk (1725). Related: Befuddled; befuddling.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • Befuddle — Be*fud dle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Befuddled}] To becloud and confuse, as with liquor. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • befuddle — index confuse (bewilder), discompose, disorganize, disorient, disturb, muddle, obfuscate Burton s Leg …   Law dictionary

  • befuddle — fuddle, addle, muddle, *confuse Analogous words: bewilder, distract, confound, perplex (see PUZZLE): intoxicate, inebriate (see corresponding adjectives at DRUNK) Antonyms: clarify, clear …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • befuddle — [v] confuse addle, baffle, ball up*, bewilder, bother, daze, disorient, distract, dumbfound, fluster, inebriate, intoxicate, make punchy*, mix up, muddle, puzzle, shake, stupefy, throw off*; concepts 7,19,42 Ant. clear up, explain …   New thesaurus

  • befuddle — ► VERB ▪ muddle or confuse. DERIVATIVES befuddled adjective befuddlement noun …   English terms dictionary

  • befuddle — [bē fud′ l, bifud′ l] vt. befuddled, befuddling 1. to fuddle or confuse (the mind, a person, etc.) 2. to stupefy with alcoholic liquor befuddlement n …   English World dictionary

  • befuddle — verb /bɪˈfʌdl/ a) to perplex or confuse (someone) The explanation left him completely befuddled. b) to stupefy someone, especially with alcohol ... to the American and French alcoholics, who drink in order to get drunk and befuddle the brain …   Wiktionary

  • befuddle — [[t]bɪfʌ̱d(ə)l[/t]] befuddles, befuddling, befuddled VERB If something befuddles you, it confuses your mind or thoughts. [V n] Randolph liked to befuddle his readers with at least one unfamiliar word per article. Syn: muddle Derived words:… …   English dictionary

  • befuddle — transitive verb Date: 1832 1. to muddle or stupefy with or as if with drink 2. confuse, perplex • befuddlement noun …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • befuddle — befuddler, n. befuddlement, n. /bi fud l/, v.t., befuddled, befuddling. 1. to confuse, as with glib statements or arguments: politicians befuddling the public with campaign promises. 2. to make stupidly drunk. [1885 90; BE + FUDDLE] Syn. 1.… …   Universalium

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