Puz″zle, v. t. [imp. & p. p.Puzzled (?); p. pr. & vb. n.Puzzling (?).] 1. To perplex; to confuse; to embarrass; to put to a stand; to nonplus.
A very shrewd disputant in those points is dexterous in puzzling others. Dr. H. More.
He is perpetually puzzled and perplexed amidst his own blunders. Addison.
2. To make intricate; to entangle.
They disentangle from the puzzled skein. Cowper.
The ways of Heaven are dark and intricate,
Puzzled in mazes, and perplexed with error. Addison.
3. To solve by ingenuity, as a puzzle; — followed by out; as, to puzzle out a mystery.
Syn. — To embarrass; perplex; confuse; bewilder; confound. See Embarrass.