Confounding

Confound Con*found" (k[o^]n*found"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Confounded}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Confounding}.] [F. confondre, fr. L. confundere, -fusum, to pour together; con- + fundere to pour. See {Fuse} to melt, and cf. {Confuse}.] 1. To mingle and blend, so that different elements can not be distinguished; to confuse. [1913 Webster]

They who strip not ideas from the marks men use for them, but confound them with words, must have endless dispute. --Locke. [1913 Webster]

Let us go down, and there confound their language. --Gen. xi. 7. [1913 Webster]

2. To mistake for another; to identify falsely. [1913 Webster]

They [the tinkers] were generally vagrants and pilferers, and were often confounded with the gypsies. --Macaulay. [1913 Webster]

3. To throw into confusion or disorder; to perplex; to strike with amazement; to dismay. [1913 Webster]

The gods confound... The Athenians both within and out that wall. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

They trusted in thee and were not confounded. --Ps. xxii. 5. [1913 Webster]

So spake the Son of God, and Satan stood A while as mute, confounded what to say. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

4. To destroy; to ruin; to waste. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

One man's lust these many lives confounds. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

How couldst thou in a mile confound an hour? --Shak.

Syn: To abash; confuse; baffle; dismay; astonish; defeat; terrify; mix; blend; intermingle. See {Abash}. [1913 Webster]