Confuses or bewilders someone; mixes up or mistakes one thing for another; defeats or thwarts a plan or expectation.
From Middle English confoundan, via Old French confondre, from Latin confundere meaning 'to mix together, pour together' (com- 'together' + fundere 'to pour'). The meaning shifted from literal mixing to mental confusion.
The word literally means 'to pour together'—like mixing all your paints on a palette so you can't tell them apart. This same root gave us 'fund' and 'fundamental,' since foundations are what 'pours' the base of everything.
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