Confoundingly

Part of speech: adverb

Definitions

1. In a manner that generates perplexity or misunderstanding
2. In a way that causes bewilderment and makes understanding difficult
3. With a quality that perplexes or puzzles the mind

Etymology: "Confoundingly" is an adverb built from "confounding" plus the suffix "-ly", so its history is largely the history of that suffix. The ending traces back to an ancient Germanic word for "body" or "form", which shows up in English as "-like" in words such as "lifelike" and "warlike". In Proto-Germanic, a compound of this kind meant "having the form of" something, and over the centuries the second half wore down to the short ending we now use. The sound pattern tells the story. Old English had "-līce", which Middle English shortened to "-ly" and which in turn became a general tool for turning adjectives into adverbs. That means "confoundingly" is a regular, transparent formation rather than an inherited or borrowed word. The stem itself is "confound", a verb that comes to English from Old French and ultimately from Latin "confundere", meaning "to pour together" or "mix up". The participle "confounding" describes something that baffles or bewilders, and adding "-ly" gives us the sense "in a way that puzzles".

Synonyms: bewilderingly, perplexingly

Antonyms: clearly, obviously