[puz.zle] vb puz.zled ; puz.zling [origin unknown] vt (1602) 1: to offer or represent to (as a person) a problem difficult to solve or a situation difficult to resolve: challenge mentally; also: to exert (as oneself) over such a problem or situation "they puzzled their wits to find a solution"
2. archaic: complicate, entangle
3: to solve with difficulty or ingenuity "~ out an answer to a riddle" ~ vi 1: to be uncertain as to action or choice
2: to attempt a solution of a puzzle by guesswork or experiment -- puz.zler n syn puzzle, perplex, bewilder, distract, nonplus, confound, dumbfound mean to baffle and disturb mentally. puzzle implies existence of a problem difficult to solve "the persistent fever puzzled the doctor". perplex adds a suggestion of worry and uncertainty esp. about making a necessary decision "a behavior that perplexed her friends". bewilder stresses a confusion of mind that hampers clear and decisive thinking "a bewildering number of possibilities". distract implies agitation or uncertainty induced by conflicting preoccupations or interests "distracted by personal problems". nonplus implies a bafflement that makes orderly planning or deciding impossible "the remark left us utterly nonplussed". confound implies temporary mental paralysis caused by astonishment or profound abasement "the tragic news confounded us all". dumbfound suggests intense but momentary confounding; often the idea of astonishment is so stressed that it becomes a near synonym of astound "was at first too dumbfounded to reply".
[2]puzzle n (ca. 1612) 1: the state of being puzzled: perplexity
2. a: something that puzzles b: a question, problem, or contrivance designed for testing ingenuity syn see mystery