From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Mystify \Mys"ti*fy\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Mystified}; p. pr. &
vb. n. {Mystifying}.] [F. mystifier, fr. Gr. ? + L. -ficare
(in comp.) to make. See 1st {Mystery}, and {-fy}.]
1. To involve in mystery; to make obscure or difficult to
understand; as, to mystify a passage of Scripture.
[1913 Webster]
2. To perplex the mind of; to puzzle; to impose upon the
credulity of; to baffle; as, to mystify an opponent.
[1913 Webster]
He took undue advantage of his credulity and
mystified him exceedingly. --Ld.
Campbell.
[1913 Webster]
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
mystify
v 1: be a mystery or bewildering to; "This beats me!"; "Got me--
I don't know the answer!"; "a vexing problem"; "This
question really stuck me" [syn: {perplex}, {vex}, {stick},
{get}, {puzzle}, {mystify}, {baffle}, {beat}, {pose},
{bewilder}, {flummox}, {stupefy}, {nonplus}, {gravel},
{amaze}, {dumbfound}]
2: make mysterious; "mystify the story" [ant: {demystify}]
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