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 ] |