Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “perplex” come from?

Perplex comes from Latin perplexus, from Latin plectere meaning to twist or braid, influenced by Proto-Indo-European per- and pel- roots meaning to twist.

perplex (English): To cause to feel baffled; to puzzle; To involve;...

Definitions

  1. To cause to feel baffled; to puzzle; To involve;...

Ancestry of “perplex”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latinperplexusentangled, involved, intricate, confused;...
2Latinplecterepresent active infinitive of plectō;...
3LatinplectoI plait, weave, braid; I twist, bend, turn; I...
4Proto-Italicplektō—
5Proto-Indo-Europeanpleḱ-to fold, plait, weave
6Proto-Indo-Europeanpel-to cover, to wrap; skin, hide, cloth; to fold

Words derived from “perplex”

  • perplexity
  • perplexeth
  • unperplex
  • perplexment
  • perplexer
  • perplexation
  • perplexest
  • perplexly
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pel- →