(transitive) To confuse or perplex (someone) completely; to bewilder, to confound, to puzzle.
(archaic, transitive) To defeat, frustrate, or thwart (someone or their efforts, plans, etc.); to confound, to foil.
(archaic, specifically, transitive) To defeat, frustrate, or thwart (someone or their efforts, plans, etc.); to confound, to foil.
(transitive) To dampen, muffle, restrain, or otherwise control (a fluid, or waves travelling through a fluid such as light or sound).
(obsolete, transitive) To deceive or hoodwink (someone); to gull.
(obsolete, transitive) Followed by away or out: to deprive of (something) through cheating or manipulation; also (followed by out of), to deprive of something by cheating or manipulating (someone).
(intransitive) To expend effort or struggle in vain.
(intransitive, obsolete) To argue or complain in a petty or trivial manner; to quibble.

(countable, uncountable) A device used to dampen, muffle, restrain, or otherwise control the movement of a fluid, or waves travelling through a fluid such as light or sound; specifically, a surface positioned inside an open area to inhibit direct motion from one place to another without preventing motion altogether.
(US, countable, dialectal, uncountable) A lever for operating the throttle valve of a winding engine.
(countable, uncountable) A barrier designed to obstruct and confuse enemies, rendering them vulnerable.
(countable, obsolete) An argument or objection based on an ambiguity of wording or similar trivial circumstance; a minor complaint; a quibble.

Intentional insult; affront; also, disgrace; (countable) an instance of this.

baffles

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