bafflement

English

Etymology

From baffle +‎ -ment.

Pronunciation
  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˈbaf(ə)lmənt/

Noun

bafflement (countable and uncountable, plural bafflements)

  1. (uncountable) The state or result of being baffled, puzzled, or confused.
    • 1920, Mary Roberts Rinehart, chapter 12, in The Bat:
      "Have you any theory about this occurrence to-night?" She watched him eagerly as she asked the question.
      He made a gesture of bafflement.
      "None whatever—it's beyond me," he confessed.
    • 2008, Chris Rojek, Brit-Myth: Who Do the British Think They Are?, Reaktion Books (→ISBN)
      The error here is to confuse British composure with the appearance of bafflement, embarrassment and reserve.
  2. (countable) Something that causes a state of confusion or puzzlement.
    • 2005 Dec. 16, Josh Tyrangiel, "Best of 2005: Music," Time:
      The cartoon characters on the front cover, the irritatingly meaningless track names . . . make it seem like a concept album about global warming for kids. Since the lyrics remain a bafflement, it might well be.

Translations
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