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mystify

[ mis-tuh-fahy ]
/ ˈmɪs təˌfaɪ /
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verb (used with object), mys·ti·fied, mys·ti·fy·ing.

to perplex (a person) by playing upon the person's credulity; bewilder purposely.
to involve in mystery or obscurity.

RELATED WORDS

puzzlement, stupor, trance, shock, glaze, bewilderment, muddle, befuddlement, haze, fog, stupefaction, perplexity, maze, discombobulation, distraction, narcosis, gauze

Nearby words

  1. mysticity,
  2. mysticize,
  3. mysticly,
  4. mystification,
  5. mystified,
  6. mystique,
  7. mysuru,
  8. mytacism,
  9. myth,
  10. myth.

Origin of mystify

1805–15; < French mystifier, equivalent to mysti- (irregular combining form of mystique mystic or mystère mystery1) + -fier -fy
Related forms
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for mystification

British Dictionary definitions for mystification

mystify

/ (ˈmɪstɪˌfaɪ) /

verb -fies, -fying or -fied (tr)

to confuse, bewilder, or puzzle
to make mysterious or obscure
Derived Formsmystification, nounmystifier, nounmystifying, adjectivemystifyingly, adverb

Word Origin for mystify

C19: from French mystifier, from mystère mystery 1 or mystique mystic
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for mystification
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper