Main Entry:

con·fuse

Pronunciation:

\kən-ˈfyüz\

Function:

transitive verb

Inflected Form(s):

con·fused; con·fus·ing

Etymology:

back-formation from Middle English confused frustrated, ruined, from Anglo-French confus, from Latin confusus, past participle of confundere

Date:

14th century

1archaic : to bring to ruin2 a: to make embarrassed : abash b: to disturb in mind or purpose : throw off3 a: to make indistinct : blur <stop confusing the issue> b: to mix indiscriminately : jumble c: to fail to differentiate from an often similar or related other <confuse money with comfort>

— con·fus·ing·ly \-ˈfyü-ziŋ-lē\ adverb