confusticate

[ kuhn-fuhs-ti-keyt ]

verb (used with object)

, con·fus·ti·cat·ed, con·fus·ti·cat·ing.

1. Slang. to confuse or perplex; bewilder.

Word History and Origins

Origin of confusticate¹

First recorded in 1845–50; pseudo-Latinism formed from English confuse; used by J.R.R. Tolkien in The Hobbit

Example Sentences

Ah! the early frost is ruthless, and the caterpillar's cruel, But, to spifflicate the plum or give the gooseberry its gruel, To confusticate the apple, or to scrumplicate the pear, Discombobulate the cherry, make the grower tear his hair, And in general play old gooseberry with the orchard and the garden, Till the Autumn crop won't fetch the grumpy farmer "a brass farden," There is nothing half so ogreish as the Bullfinch and his chums, Those imps of devastation—as regards our pears and plums.

From Project Gutenberg