Main Entry:

con·found

Pronunciation:

\kən-ˈfau̇nd, kän-\

Function:

transitive verb

Etymology:

Middle English, from Anglo-French confundre, from Latin confundere to pour together, confuse, from com- + fundere to pour — more at found

Date:

14th century

1 aarchaic : to bring to ruin : destroy b: baffle, frustrate <conferences…are not for accomplishment but to confound knavish tricks — J. K. Galbraith>2obsolete : consume, waste3 a: to put to shame : discomfit <a performance that confounded the critics> b: refute <sought to confound his arguments>4: damn5: to throw (a person) into confusion or perplexity6 a: to fail to discern differences between : mix up b: to increase the confusion of

synonyms see puzzle

— con·found·er \-ˈfau̇n-dər\ noun

— con·found·ing·ly \-diŋ-lē\ adverb