bemuse etymology

Etymology:

• Middle English bemusen, bemysen "to render stupid, amaze; mock, deride"
• Old French bemusier, from Late Latin bambalusio, of Gaulish origin

Meaning:

• To cause to feel amused or bewildered; to puzzle or entertain

Origin:

The exact origin of the term is uncertain, but it is thought to have come from a Gaulish word meaning "to stammer" or "to mock." It entered English via Old French in the 14th century.

The word bemuse originally had a negative connotation, meaning "to render stupid" or "to mock." However, over time, it has come to be used in a more positive sense, to refer to the feeling of amusement or bewilderment that one might experience at a surprising or unexpected event.

bemuse relate terms

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