WORD OF THE DAY: Flummoxed
[flə-məksd]
Part of speech: Adjective
Origin: Uncertain, mid 19th century
Definition: Totally confused or bewildered; utterly unable to understand or comprehend
Examples of Flummoxed in a sentence
“The complex equations in his physics course left him completely flummoxed.”
“She was flummoxed by all of the big, confusing words inserted into the legal agreement.”
About Flummoxed
While its synonyms have traceable origins, researchers looking into ‘flummoxed’ can only scratch their heads at the word’s unknown derivation. But it’s not alone; some common words that also leave historians at a loss include ‘conundrum,’ ‘bizarre,’ ‘avalanche,’ and even ‘dog.’
Did you Know?
In something of an etymological rarity, no one is quite certain as to the origins of the word flummoxed. It has roots that are both literary and dialect-based, but no conclusive source has been determined. The word has left historians, well, flummoxed.
