nonplus

American  

[non-pluhs] / nɒnˈplʌs /

verb (used with object)

nonplussed, nonplused, nonplussing, nonplusing

1. to render utterly perplexed by something unexpected; puzzle completely.

   He nonplussed his questioners by answering in riddles.

   Synonyms:

   disconcert, confound, confuse, perplex

2. to cause to feel indifferent, calm, or unexcited.

   The shoppers were entirely nonplussed by the disturbance in the street, continuing to gaze at window displays as they strolled along.

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noun

1. a state of utter perplexity.

   When the protagonist's wife suddenly disappears, he's at a nonplus and fights with two different feelings.

nonplus British  

/ nɒnˈplʌs /

verb

1. (tr) to put at a loss; confound

   he was nonplussed by the sudden announcement

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noun

1. a state of utter perplexity prohibiting action or speech

Usage

See nonplussed ( def. ).

Etymology

Origin of nonplus

First recorded in 1575–85; (noun) from Latin nōn plūs literally, “not more, no further,” that is, a state in which nothing more can be done

Explanation

To nonplus is to baffle or confuse someone to the point that they have nothing to say. Something weird and mysterious can nonplus you, like a play that is performed entirely by chickens. If you know a little French or Latin, you'll recognize that "non plus" means "no more." When something bewildering nonpluses you, there's no more you can say or do about it. A goal of getting poor grades, running with a bad crowd, and refusing to eat would leave your parents nonplussed. Sometimes people misuse nonplus to mean "unimpressed," but that's not correct: to nonplus is to puzzle, confuse, and dumbfound.

Example Sentences

He found cross-examinations mentally invigorating, soon learned that he could nonplus storming attorneys if he kept smiling no matter how galling their insinuations.

From Time Magazine Archive

The young lord, thus abandoned, looked at first at a nonplus, and seemed for a while more than half-inclined to follow.

From Shrewsbury A Romance by Weyman, Stanley J.

Loth to go to Hell and put to a nonplus, David built a nest in a tree in Richmond Park, and he paused therein to consider which way to proceed.

From My Neighbors Stories of the Welsh People by Evans, Caradoc

But at times some extremely artless animadversions are heard that almost nonplus us.

From Popular scientific lectures by Mach, Ernst

My uncle turned from one to the other, completely at a nonplus, Rosalie in the meantime clinging to his breast and imploring him passionately to save her!

From Kate Coventry An Autobiography by Whyte-Melville, G. J.

Related Words

• astonish
• astound
• baffle
• bewilder
• daze
• disconcert
• dumbfound
• faze
• fluster
• mystify