Per*plex", a. [L. perplexus
entangled, intricate; per + plectere, plexum, to plait,
braid: cf. F. perplexe. See Per-, and Plait.]
Intricate; difficult. [Obs.] Glanvill.
Per*plex" (?), v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Perplexed (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Perplexing.] [L. perplexari. See Perplex,
a.] 1. To involve; to entangle;
to make intricate or complicated, and difficult to be unraveled or
understood; as, to perplex one with doubts.
No artful wildness to perplex the
scene.
Pope.
What was thought obscure, perplexed, and too
hard for our weak parts, will lie open to the understanding in a fair
view.
Locke.
2. To embarrass; to puzzle; to distract; to
bewilder; to confuse; to trouble with ambiguity, suspense, or
anxiety. "Perplexd beyond self-explication."
Shak.
We are perplexed, but not in
despair.
2 Cor. iv. 8.
We can distinguish no general truths, or at least shall
be apt to perplex the mind.
Locke.
3. To plague; to vex; to tormen.
Glanvill.
Syn. -- To entangle; involve; complicate; embarrass; puzzle;
bewilder; confuse; distract. See Embarrass.