perplexed, ppl. a.
(pəˈplɛkst)
Also 6–8 perplext.
[app. in origin an alteration of perplex a., assimilated to pa. pples. in accordance with its quasi-participial force as implying a resultant state. As to the sense-development see perplex a.]
1. Of a person: Involved in doubt or anxiety on account of the intricate character of the matter under consideration; bewildered, puzzled: see perplex v. 1. Formerly in a more general sense: Troubled: cf. perplexity 1 b.
| 1477 Earl Rivers (Caxton) Dictes Prol., In diuerse & many sondry wyses man is perplexid with worldly aduersitees. 1529 More Dyaloge Wks. 165 That it might please his goodnes in so great a parell not to leue me perplexed. 1578 Banister Hist. Man viii. 103 Glandules..pouryng forth teares in a perplexed mynde. 1611 Bible Joel i. 18 The herds of cattle are perplexed, because they haue no pasture. 1706 Phillips, Perplexed, confounded, troubled. 1836 Mrs. Browning Poet's Vow i. xiii, Mad winds that howling go!..perplexed seas That stagger from their blow! |
2. Of things, conditions, language, etc.: Full of doubt or difficulty from its intricate or entangled condition; intricate, involved, complicated.
| 1529 More Dyaloge i. Wks. 165/1 Why shoulde not I in such perplexed case after helpe called for of God, take the one parte at aduenture by Lot? 1576 Fleming Panopl. Epist. 399 Ambrosius is..in some places..perplext and cumbersome to bee vnderstoode. a 1668 Davenant Man's the Master iii. i, This is the most perplext encounter that I ever saw. 1785 Reid Intell. Powers ii. x. 287 His style is disagreeable, being full of perplexed sentences. 1832 Lewis Use & Ab. Pol. Terms xi. 93 On this point his language is somewhat perplexed. |
3. Of material objects: Having the parts intricately intertwined or intermingled; intricate, entangled.
| 1605 Bacon Adv. Learn. ii. vii. §5 The formes of substances..(as they are nowe by compounding and transplanting multiplied) are so perplexed. 1664 Evelyn Sylva xii, That perplext canopy which covers the seat in his Majesties garden at Hampton-court. 1748 Anson's Voy. iii. x. 413 The history and inventions of past ages, recorded by these perplexed [Chinese] symbols, must frequently prove unintelligible. |