bemuse

Bemuse is a verb meaning to cause someone to be perplexed, puzzled, or bewildered, sometimes with mild amusement. It can also mean to occupy someone's thoughts or attention, especially in a way that leaves them distracted or absorbed.

Etymology: The word combines the prefix be- with muse; it first appears in Early Modern English and has typically carried senses of confusion or puzzlement, gradually acquiring the nuance of quiet preoccupation.

Usage: Bemuse is most commonly used in literary or formal contexts. It describes a reaction rather than a deliberate action: "The puzzling map bemused the explorers." "The magician's misdirection bemused the audience." The past participle bemused describes someone who is puzzled or lost in thought: "She looked bemused by the strange instructions." The present participle bemusing can describe something that causes bemusement or is puzzling, sometimes with a mildly entertaining effect.

Relation and nuance: Bemuse is related to bemusement, a noun referring to a state of puzzlement or bewilderment, and to bemusing, an adjective describing something that tends to confuse or entertain. It differs from amuse in that bemuse emphasizes puzzlement or absorption rather than simple amusement.

See also: bemusement; bemusing; bemused; amuse.