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 a archaic : to bring to ruin : destroy b : baffle, frustrate <conferences…are not for accomplishment but to confound knavish tricks — J. K. Galbraith>
2 obsolete : consume, waste
3 a : to put to shame : discomfit <a performance that confounded the critics> b : refute <sought to confound his arguments>
4 : damn
5 : to throw (a person) into confusion or perplexity
6 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