Puzzling

[puhz-ling] /ˈpʌz lɪŋ/

adjective
1.
confusing or baffling:
a puzzling answer.
noun
2.
the skill or pastime of constructing or working crossword or other .
[puhz-uh l] /ˈpʌz əl/
noun
1.
a toy, problem, or other contrivance designed to amuse by presenting difficulties to be solved by ingenuity or patient effort.
2.
something ; a puzzling question, matter, or person.
3.
a puzzled or perplexed condition; bewilderment.
4.
a :
Did you do the puzzle in the newspaper today?
5.
a .
verb (used with object), puzzled, puzzling.
6.
to put (someone) at a loss; mystify; confuse; baffle:
Her attitude puzzles me.
7.
to frustrate or confound, as the understanding; perplex:
The problem puzzled him for weeks.
8.
to exercise (oneself, one’s brain, etc.) over some problem or matter.
9.
Archaic. to make intricate or complicated.
verb (used without object), puzzled, puzzling.
10.
to be perplexed or confused.
11.
to ponder or study over some perplexing problem or matter.
Verb phrases
12.
puzzle out, to solve by careful study or effort:
I was unable to puzzle out the message.
/ˈpʌzəl/
verb
1.
to perplex or be perplexed
2.
(intransitive) foll by over. to attempt the solution (of); ponder (about): he puzzled over her absence
3.
(transitive) usually foll by out. to solve by mental effort: he puzzled out the meaning of the inscription
noun
4.
a person or thing that puzzles
5.
a problem that cannot be easily or readily solved
6.
the state or condition of being puzzled
7.
a toy, game, or question presenting a problem that requires skill or ingenuity for its solution See jigsaw puzzle, Chinese puzzle
adj.

“bewildering,” 1660s, present participle adjective from puzzle (v.). Related: Puzzlingly.
v.

1590s, pusle “bewilder, confound,” possibly frequentative of pose (v.) in obsolete sense of “perplex” (cf. nuzzle from nose). Related: Puzzled; puzzling.
n.

c.1600, “state of being puzzled,” from puzzle (v.); meaning “perplexing question” is from 1650s; that of “a toy contrived to test one’s ingenuity” is from 1814.