mys·ti·fy

(mĭs′tə-fī′)

tr.v. mys·ti·fied, mys·ti·fy·ing, mys·ti·fies

1. To confuse or bewilder. See Synonyms at perplex.

2. To make obscure or mysterious: "What had been for ages mundane would soon become mystified in the minds of most Americans" (Ann Vileisis).

[French mystifier : mystère, mystery (from Latin mystērium; see mystery¹) + -fier, -fy.]

mys′ti·fi′er n.

mys′ti·fy′ing·ly adv.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun

mystifier - a particularly baffling problem that is said to have a correct solution; "he loved to solve chessmate puzzles"; "that's a real puzzler"

puzzle, puzzler, teaser

problem - a question raised for consideration or solution; "our homework consisted of ten problems to solve"

sudoku - a number puzzle in which the numbers 1 through 9 must be placed into a grid of cells so that each row or column contains only one of each number

acrostic, word square - a puzzle where you fill a square grid with words reading the same down as across

Mentioned in

References in classic literature

The cardinal is not the man to forget a mystification until he has settled account with the mystifier; and the mystifier appears to me to have the air of being a certain young Gascon of my acquaintance."

View in context

A little older, a little colder: and already are they mystifiers, and mumblers and mollycoddles.

View in context

to noon: Carl the Mystifier's magic show at Grafelman Park

Heritage Fest

La premiere se rapporte bien entendu au sens populaire de "tromper," "mystifier." Puis nous avons celle d'un "genre de theatre, intermediaire comique dans la representation d'un mystere," celle d'une "petite piece comique qui presente une peinture satirique des moeurs et de la vie quotidienne," et finalement celle qui se rapporte a la nourriture, d'un "hachis d'aliments servant a farcir, remplir, garnir" (Larousse 421).

MISE EN SCENE ET MISE EN BOUCHE: LA CUISINE ORNEMENTALE OU LE POUVOIR DE L'IMAGINAIRE CHEZ ROLAND BARTHES

Steffan Urban Mystifier Ballantine Pity they're not using British steel.

The intimidating Ajax tank, the eyes and ears of the British Army, will be built in Merthyr; WEBCHAT

Borges is referred to as an intellectual author of fantastical stories: "[TEXT NOT REPRODUCIBLE IN ASCII]" ("The reader of books, the catcher of abysms"), "[TEXT NOT REPRODUCIBLE IN ASCII]" ("The great mystifier").

Borges in Ukraine: the reception of Borges's works in Ukrainian translation

The 69-year-old Geller used to call his abilities "psychic" but now prefers to refer to himself as a "mystifier" and entertainer.

Newcastle United were 'helped to victory' by psychic Uri Geller in 2001; In a light-hearted story, the Chronicle recruited TV spoon-bender Uri Geller as Newcastle United beat Arsenal in London

Driss Jamil, est de revenir sur l'impact humain de l'h[R] patite virale et surtout d[R] mystifier ce fl[R] au qui ne cesse de se propager et qui touche 3 millions de Marocains.

SOS h[R]?patites donne leIUexemple

Today I describe myself as a mystifier. I thrive on controversy, the sceptics boosted my career unintentionally.

I used secret mind tricks on Russians to save the world from nuclear war; SPOON-BENDER URI GELLER ON BEING A SPY

4 If you make a mistake, use a spray mystifier and a tanning mitt to rub away any excess tan before it dries into your skin.

EMAIL Happy sprays; Girls reveal how fake tan gives them huge confidence boost