bemuse

C2+ Topic:Actions & Processes

US /bɪˈmjuz/ UK /bɪˈmjuːz/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

verb
to bewilder or confuse, often mildly

The cryptic instructions bemused the new employees.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to bewilder or confuse,... bewilder confuse perplex befuddle puzzle muddle

Opposites

enlighten clarify

Word family

Derived forms bemusedbemusementbemusing

Related forms muse amuse

Etymology

From be- (intensive) + muse ('to ponder'), coined in the early 18th century, ultimately from Old French muser ('to ponder, loiter').

be- Old English muser Old French

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# bemuse

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /bɪˈmjuz/
**IPA (UK):** /bɪˈmjuːz/

## Meanings
1. to bewilder or confuse, often mildly

## Examples
- The cryptic instructions bemused the new employees.

## Synonyms
- bewilder
- confuse
- perplex
- befuddle
- puzzle
- muddle

## Antonyms
- enlighten
- clarify

## Derived Forms
- bemused
- bemusement
- bemusing

## Related Forms
- muse
- amuse

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: be-
- Root: muser

## Etymology
From be- (intensive) + muse ('to ponder'), coined in the early 18th century, ultimately from Old French muser ('to ponder, loiter').

## AI Etymology
Bemuse is from be- (intensive) + muse ('to ponder'), coined in the early 18th century, ultimately from Old French muser ('to ponder, loiter'). Important recorded forms include be- (Old English) and muser (Old French). Morphologically, the word is a built form whose named elements carry part of the historical sense. The current sense covers to bewilder or confuse, often mildly. The wider family includes derived forms such as bemused, bemusement, and bemusing and related words such as muse and amuse.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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