different between nonplus vs bamboozle

English

Etymology

From Latin n?n pl?s (“no more, no further”)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /n?n?pl?s/

Noun

nonplus (plural nonpluses)

1. A state of perplexity or bewilderment.
   • Both of them are a perfect non-plus and baffle to all human understanding.

Verb

nonplus (third-person singular simple present nonplusses or nonpluses, present participle nonplussing or nonplusing, simple past and past participle nonplussed or nonplused)

1. (transitive) to perplex or bewilder someone; to confound or flummox

Derived terms

• nonplussed

Translations

English

Etymology

Derivative of 17th-century vernacular bam (“to trick, to con”), which is a derivative of bam in noun use (fraudster, cheat). Possibly from French embobiner

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /bæm.?bu?.z?l/

Verb

bamboozle (third-person singular simple present bamboozles, present participle bamboozling, simple past and past participle bamboozled)

1. (transitive, informal) To con, defraud, trick, to make a fool of, to humbug or impose on someone.
   • 1851, Herman Melville, Moby Dick, chapter 19

     “Look here, friend,” said I, “if you have anything important to tell us, out with it; but if you are only trying to bamboozle us, you are mistaken in your game; that’s all I have to say.”

2. (transitive, informal) To confuse, frustrate or perplex.

   He's completely bamboozled by the changes in the computer system.

Translations

Derived terms

Noun

bamboozle (plural bamboozles)

1. (obsolete, informal) A cheat, hoax, or imposition.