/ pəˈpleksəti; NAmE pərˈp-/ noun ( pl. -ies ) ( formal )
1.
[ U ] the state of feeling confused and anxious because you do not understand sth
SYN confusion :
Most of them just stared at her in perplexity.
2.
[ C , usually pl. ] something that is difficult to understand :
the perplexities of life
••
WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : from Old French perplexite or late Latin perplexitas , from Latin perplexus entangled, confused, based on plexus interwoven, from the verb plectere .