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third-person singular simple present perplexes, present participle perplexing, simple past and past participle perplexed
(transitive) To cause to feel baffled; to puzzle. examples
(transitive) To involve; to entangle; to make intricate or complicated. quotations examples
What was thought obscure, perplexed, and too hard for our weak parts, will lie open to the understanding in a fair view.
a. 1705, John Locke, “Of the Conduct of the Understanding”, in Posthumous Works of Mr. John Locke: […], London: […] A[wnsham] and J[ohn] Churchill, […], published 1706
(transitive, obsolete) To plague; to vex; to torment. quotations
Chloe's the wonder of her sex, 'Tis well her heart is tender, How might such killing eyes perplex, With virtue to defend her.
1726, George Granville, Chloe
All night no ruder air perplexThy sliding keel, till Phosphor, brightAs our pure love, thro’ early lightShall glimmer on the dewy decks.
1850, [Alfred, Lord Tennyson], In Memoriam, London: Edward Moxon, […], canto IX
comparative more perplex, superlative most perplex
(now rare) intricate; difficult quotations
How the soul directs the spirits for the motion of the body, according to the several animal exigents, is as perplex in the Theory, as either of the former.
1665, Joseph Glanvill, Scepsis Scientifica: Or, Confest Ignorance, the Way to Science; […], London: […] E. C[otes] for Henry Eversden […]
Finally, I explore possible audience interpretations of the film and offer some alternative reading strategies of these highly perplex sketches.
2007, Sean Brayton, “MTV's Jackass: Transgression, Abjection and the Economy of White Masculinity”, in Journal of Gender Studies, volume 16, page 58
plural perplexes
(obsolete) A difficulty.