v.
Pronunciation: k ə n- ' fau ̇ nd, kän-
Function: transitive verb
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French confundre, from Latin confundere to pour together, confuse, from com- + fundere to pour ― more at FOUND
Date: 14th century
1 a archaic : to bring to ruin : DESTROY b : BAFFLE , FRUSTRATE <conferences ⋯ are not for accomplishment but to confound knavish tricks ― J. K. Galbraith>
2 obsolete : CONSUME , WASTE
3 a : to put to shame : DISCOMFIT <a performance that confound ed the critics> b : REFUTE <sought to confound his arguments>
4 : DAMN
5 : to throw (a person) into confusion or perplexity
6 a : to fail to discern differences between : mix up b : to increase the confusion of
synonyms see PUZZLE
– con · found · er \ - ' fau ̇ n-d ə r \ noun
– con · found · ing · ly \ -di ŋ -l ē \ adverb