Confusing and difficult to understand or figure out; causing puzzlement or bewilderment.
From Latin 'perplexus,' which combined 'per-' (thoroughly) and 'plexus' (tangled or woven). The sense evolved from 'tangled' to 'mentally tangled' or confused.
The Latin root 'plexus' meant 'woven together,' so perplexing literally describes something so tangled up that your mind gets stuck—it's a perfect metaphor since confusion genuinely feels like mental knots you can't untangle.
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