Per*plex" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Perplexed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Perplexing.] [L. perplexari. See Perplex, a.]
1.
To involve; to entangle; to make intricate or complicated, and difficult to be unraveled or understood; as, to perplex one with doubts.
No artful wildness to perplex the scene.
Pope.
What was thought obscure, perplexed, and too hard for our weak parts, will lie open to the understanding in a fair view.
Locke.
2.
To embarrass; to puzzle; to distract; to bewilder; to confuse; to trouble with ambiguity, suspense, or anxiety.
"
Perplexd beyond self-explication."
Shak.
We are perplexed, but not in despair.
2 Cor. iv. 8.
We can distinguish no general truths, or at least shall be apt to perplex the mind.
Locke.
3.
To plague; to vex; to tormen.
Glanvill.
Syn. -- To entangle; involve; complicate; embarrass; puzzle; bewilder; confuse; distract. See Embarrass.
© Webster 1913.
Per*plex", a. [L. perplexus entangled, intricate; per + plectere, plexum, to plait, braid: cf. F. perplexe. See Per-, and Plait.]
Intricate; difficult.
[Obs.]
Glanvill.
© Webster 1913.