Befuddlement
to confuse, as with glib statements or arguments:
politicians befuddling the public with campaign promises.
to make stupidly drunk.
contemporary examples
one former media research center employee reacted to the news with a deep sense of befuddlement, “i thought everyone knew it.”
ex-employees of conservative figure l. brent bozell say he didn’t write his books or columns ben jacobs february 12, 2014
this state of affairs is a source of befuddlement to walmart executives.
sad face at walmart daniel gross may 15, 2013
still, i have heard more than a few people, of all races, shrug in some kind of befuddlement about what they are expected to feel.
south africa kicks off week of mourning mandela mark gevisser december 8, 2013
historical examples
she had only added to his befuddlement and he bent forward, soliciting some more lucid statement of her position.
a hoosier chronicle meredith nicholson
but their befuddlement was only a t-the of that which struck cleigh an hour later.
the pagan madonna harold macgrath
the befuddlement of antoine and the waiter who -ssisted him added to the general joy.
lady larkspur meredith nicholson
verb (transitive)
to confuse, muddle, or perplex
to make stupid with drink
v.
“confuse,” 1873, from be- + fuddle; originally “to confuse with strong drink or opium” (by 1832). an earlier word in the same sense was begunk (1725). related: befuddled; befuddling.
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- Befuddling
to confuse, as with glib statements or arguments: politicians befuddling the public with campaign promises. to make stupidly drunk. contemporary examples and opinions grew more virulent and befuddling on both sides. why we’re not ranking rabbis gary ginsberg, michael lynton, abigail pogrebin february 25, 2014 historical examples have we no “mud-heads” befuddling life at every […]
- Beghard
a member of a former lay brotherhood, founded in flanders in the 13th century, living after the manner of the beguines. historical examples a leading feature of the beghard propaganda was the circulation among the laity of written tracts and devotional works. a history of the inquisition of the middle ages; volume ii henry charles […]
- Beg off
to ask for as a gift, as charity, or as a favor: to beg alms; to beg forgiveness. to ask (someone) to give or do something; implore: he begged me for mercy. sit down, i beg you. to take for granted without basis or justification: a statement that begs the very point we’re disputing. to […]
- Beg, borrow, or steal
obtain by any possible means, as in you couldn’t beg, borrow, or steal tickets to the olympics. this term is often used in the negative, to describe something that cannot be obtained; chaucer used it in the tale of the man of law. [ late 1300s ]
- Begorra
(used as a euphemism for by g-d): it’s a fine day, begorra. historical examples thin, begorra, yez may as well get off the car an’ fire away at wanst. sporting society, vol. i (of 2) various begorra, you’re wilcome to no more watermillons, ye’ll find! the universal reciter various the man for whose benefit the […]