- confuse
- c.1550, in literal sense "mix or mingle things so as to render the elements indistinguishable;" attested from mid-18c. in active, figurative sense of "discomfit in mind or feeling;" not in general use until 19c., taking over senses formerly belonging to confound, dumbfound, flabbergast etc. The pp. confused (q.v.) is attested much earlier (serving as an alternate p.t. to confound), and the verb here might be a back-formation from it. Related: Confusing (1846).