Mystify
Origin
From French mystifier, from Ancient Greek μυστικός (mystikos, "secret, mystic") + Latin -ficare.
Full definition of mystify
Verb
- (transitive) To thoroughly confuse, befuddle, or bewilder.
- 1898, Winston Churchill, The Celebrity Chapter 2, I had occasion … to make a somewhat long business trip to Chicago, and on my return … I found Farrar awaiting me in the railway station. He smiled his wonted fraction by way of greeting, …, and finally leading me to his buggy, turned and drove out of town. I was completely mystified at such an unusual proceeding.
- Solar eclipses continued to mystify ancient humans for thousands of years.