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. Thesaurus Synonyms 1 verb · to bewilder or confuse,... bewilderconfuseperplexbefuddlepuzzlemuddle ↔ Opposites enlightenclarify Word family Derived forms bemusedbemusementbemusing Related forms museamuse Etymology AI details 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 Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary Google Images # 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 markdown