mys·ti·fy

[mis-tuh-fahy]
verb (used with object), mys·ti·fied, mys·ti·fy·ing.
1.
to perplex (a person) by playing upon the person's credulity; bewilder purposely.
2.
to involve in mystery or obscurity.

Origin:
1805–15; < French mystifier, equivalent to mysti- (irregular combining form of mystique mystic or mystère mystery1) + -fier -fy

mys·ti·fi·ca·tion, noun
mys·ti·fied·ly, adverb
mys·ti·fi·er, noun
mys·ti·fy·ing·ly, adverb
o·ver·mys·ti·fi·ca·tion, noun
o·ver·mys·ti·fy, verb (used with object), o·ver·mys·ti·fied, o·ver·mys·ti·fy·ing.
un·mys·ti·fied, adjective


1. fool, mislead, elude, puzzle.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source Link To mystify
00:10
Mystify is always a great word to know.
So is quincunx. Does it mean:
an arrangement of five objects, as trees, in a square or rectangle, one at each corner and one in the middle.
a gadget; dingus; thingumbob.
Collins
World English Dictionary
mystify (ˈmɪstɪˌfaɪ) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
vb , -fies, -fying, -fied
1.  to confuse, bewilder, or puzzle
2.  to make mysterious or obscure
 
[C19: from French mystifier, from mystèremystery1 or mystiquemystic]
 
mystifi'cation
 
n
 
'mystifier
 
n
 
'mystifying
 
adj
 
'mystifyingly
 
adv

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

mystify
1814, from Fr. mystifier (1772), a verb formed irregularly from mystique "a mystic," from L. mysticus (see mystic). Related: Mystified; mystifying.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Example sentences
Current notices are not being read and simply confuse and mystify the few plan
  participants who try to follow them.
We believe that historians should clarify and explain rather than mystify and
  confuse.
But the truth is that many of its properties still mystify scientists.
Uncle's disappearance continues to mystify his devotees.
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