mystify

verb

mys·​ti·​fy ˈmi-stə-ˌfī How to pronounce mystify (audio)
mystified; mystifying

transitive verb

1
: to perplex the mind of : bewilder
2
: to make mysterious or obscure
mystify an interpretation of a prophecy
mystifier noun
mystifyingly adverb

Examples of mystify in a Sentence

The cause of the disease mystified doctors for many years. The magician has been mystifying his audiences for years with his amazing tricks.
Recent Examples on the Web And even still, the crawfish can remain mystifying. Rick Rojas Emily Kask, New York Times, 15 Mar. 2024 Across the reach of centuries, Eisner was both impressed and mystified by the violence of the killing. Sam Knight, The New Yorker, 12 Mar. 2024 Rapa Nui is best known for its moai, the large-scale stone statues that mystified the Europeans who arrived in the 18th century. Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Feb. 2024 While some residents have cheered the city on, buying billboards and launching websites to write editorials to persuade the council against cooperating with the feds, other residents and advocacy groups are mystified and outraged by the city's posturing. Taylor Seely, The Arizona Republic, 31 Jan. 2024 Though people have been collecting rainwater for thousands of years, the process can be mystifying. Annie Midori Atherton, Washington Post, 19 Dec. 2023 How does Rankin make sense of this fascinating, mystifying character? Adrienne Miller, Vogue, 5 Mar. 2024 The arrival of Hanuš, a mystifying creature from the dawn of time with Paul Dano lending his voice, offers Jakub a glimmer of hope. Bonnie & Clyde (1967) Arthur Penn's Bonnie & Clyde, starring Faye Dunaway and Warren Beatty, is a landmark film in American cinema that redefined the crime genre. Travis Bean, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 For much of the film, you will simply be mystified as to why this woman is so taken with Michelle’s plight — her behavior is frankly odd and the character proudly has no boundaries. Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 24 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'mystify.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French mystifier "to hoodwink, dupe," from Greek mýstēs "person initiated (into a religious cult)" + French -ifier -ify — more at mystic entry 1

Note: French mystifier was used by 18th-century literati in the context of elaborate practical jokes in which some pseudo-magical procedure would be performed on the subject of the joke as a sort of mock initiation. Such a joke is described by the playwright Charles-Simon Favart (1710-92) in a letter of June 24, 1760, apparently the earliest known occurrence of the verb: one Poinsinet is persuaded that the application of a magic ointment has made him invisible and he then becomes the butt of various jests. According to Favart, Poinsinet was dubbed le mystifié (presumably, "one made an initiate") as a result of the jests, which he refers to collectively as la mystification. (See Mémoires et correspondances littéraires, dramatiques et anecdotiques de C.S. Favart, tome 1, Paris, 1808, p. 50-52.) The meaning of the English word has been influenced by mystery entry 1, mystical, etc.

First Known Use

1814, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of mystify was in 1814

Dictionary Entries Near mystify

Cite this Entry

“Mystify.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mystify. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

mystify

verb
mys·​ti·​fy ˈmis-tə-ˌfī How to pronounce mystify (audio)
mystified; mystifying
: to confuse thoroughly the understanding of : perplex
mystified by his behavior
mystification
ˌmis-tə-fə-ˈkā-shən
noun

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