BAFFLED • FREE TRANSLATOR.ORG • Definition of Baffled

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/bˈæfəld/ Listen

verb

Baffle v. t. (past & past part. baffled; pres. part. baffling)

1.

To cause to undergo a disgraceful punishment, as a recreant knight. (Obs.) "He by the heels him hung upon a tree, And baffled so, that all which passed by The picture of his punishment might see."

2.

To check by shifts and turns; to elude; to foil. "The art that baffles time's tyrannic claim."

3.

To check by perplexing; to disconcert, frustrate, or defeat; to thwart. "A baffled purpose." "A suitable scripture ready to repel and baffle them all." "Calculations so difficult as to have baffled, until within a... recent period, the most enlightened nations." "The mere intricacy of a question should not baffle us."

Baffling wind (Naut.), one that frequently shifts from one point to another.

Synonyms: To balk; thwart; foil; frustrate; defeat.

Baffle v. i.

1.

To practice deceit. (Obs.)

2.

To struggle against in vain; as, a ship baffles with the winds. (R.)

adjective

baffled adj.

1.

Not understanding.

Synonyms: uncomprehending.

2.

Discouraged by failure to accomplish a goal and uncertain how to proceed; used especially of feelings of defeat and discouragement.

Synonyms: balked, discomfited, discouraged, frustrated.

See images of 'Baffled'

Etymology of 'Baffled'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Baffled" Quotes from Famous Books

... "You've baffled me this time, Donald Reed, but I'll carry the day yet. That girl, wherever she's gone to, is no more your sister than she is mine, and I can prove it to her! She's my niece—my own sister's child! I've a right to her, and I can prove it. She's going back home with me, out West, where ...

— Donald and Dorothy • Mary Mapes Dodge

... the militia, is the natural defense of the United States. The experience of the last war would be sufficient to shew that a moderate naval force, such as would be easily within the present abilities of the Union, would have been sufficient to have baffled many formidable transportations of troops from one State to another, which were then practiced. Our seacoasts, from their great extent, are more easily annoyed and more easily defended by a naval force than any other. With all the materials our country abounds; in ...

— A Compilation of the Messages and Papers of the Presidents - Section 2 (of 4) of Volume 1: John Adams • Edited by James D. Richardson

... for it is clear that all is over here!" replied Craven. And the two baffled villains turned to leave the place. But Herbert ...

— Capitola's Peril - A Sequel to 'The Hidden Hand' • Mrs. E.D.E.N. Southworth

... morning being fair, they sailed again and journeyed prosperously till they came to the very end of the great Peloponnesian land, where Cape Malea looks out upon the southern sea. But contrary currents baffled them, so that they could not round it, and the north wind blew so strongly that they must fain drive before it. And on the tenth day they came to the land where the lotus grows—a wondrous fruit, of which whosoever eats cares not to see country or ...

— Myths and Legends of All Nations • Various

... celerity that would at least have done credit to a bear, I regained the ground, having caught but a momentary glimpse of the country, but enough to convince me no lake was near. Leaving all incumbrances here but my gun, I still pressed on, loath to be thus baffled. After floundering through another alder swamp for nearly half a mile, I flattered myself that I was close to the lake. I caught sight of a low spur of the mountain sweeping around like a half-extended arm, and I fondly imagined that within its clasp was the object of my search. ...

— Wake-Robin • John Burroughs

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