Origin of puzzle
First recorded in 1585–95; origin uncertain
SYNONYMS FOR puzzle
2
Puzzle,
riddle,
enigma refer to something baffling or confusing that is to be solved. A
puzzle is a question or problem, intricate enough to be perplexing to the mind; it is sometimes a contrivance made purposely perplexing to test one's ingenuity:
a crossword puzzle; The reason for their behavior remains a puzzle. A
riddle is an intentionally obscure statement or question, the meaning of or answer to which is to be arrived at only by guessing:
the famous riddle of the Sphinx.
Enigma, originally meaning riddle, now refers to some baffling problem with connotations of mysteriousness:
He will always be an enigma to me.
6 confound.
OTHER WORDS FROM puzzle
puz·zled·ly, adverb puz·zled·ness, noun un·puz·zle, verb (used with object), un·puz·zled, un·puz·zling.Words nearby puzzle
puy de sancy,
puy lentil,
puy-de-dôme,
puyallup,
puzo,
puzzle,
puzzle box,
puzzle jug,
puzzle out,
puzzleheaded,
puzzlement
British Dictionary definitions for puzzle out
puzzle
/ (ˈpʌzəl) /
verb
to perplex or be perplexed
(intr foll by over)
to attempt the solution (of); ponder (about)
he puzzled over her absence
(tr usually foll by out)
to solve by mental effort
he puzzled out the meaning of the inscription
noun
Derived forms of puzzle
puzzling, adjectiveWord Origin for puzzle
C16: of unknown origin
Idioms and Phrases with puzzle out
puzzle out
Clarify or solve something, as in It took him a while to puzzle out the significance of the statement. [Late 1700s]