mystificatoryadj.
/ˌmɪstᵻfᵻˈkeɪt(ə)ri/, U.S. /ˈmɪstəfəkəˌtɔri/ Causing mystification; having the effect of confusing or bewildering a person.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > secrecy, concealment > a profound secret, mystery > [adjective] > causing mystification
mystifyingc1827
mystificatory1830
mystery-mongering1901
mystific1990
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > perplexity, bewilderment > act of perplexing > [adjective]
maskinga1387
maskeringc1400
mazingc1449
mazefula1586
perplexing1585
distraughtful1594
confounding1595
confusive1611
perplexful1618
distracting1632
distractive1633
perplexivea1637
obstupefying1660
perplexitivea1665
posing1666
distractious1667
nonplussing1670
umbraging1683
gravelling1686
embarrassing1691
wildering1742
distractful1746
staggering1769
baffling1783
bewildering1792
head-scratching1827
mystifyingc1827
mystificatory1830
riddlesome1843
confusing1846
1830 Westm. Rev. 12 270 [Coleridge's] confidences to Captain Medwin and Mr. Leigh Hunt, were..of this mystificatory class.
1830 Fraser's Mag. 2 492 Your verses..say all this, only in much more mystificatory language.
1927 C. E. Montague Right off Map viii. 68 This mystificatory drug had been working to some effect on the people of Ria's City.
1980 Logophile 3 iv. 52/1 Their own text does not always avoid the mystificatory features of ‘scientific’ language which they perceive in Chomsky's writing.
1987 New Left Rev. Jan. 88 Raphael sought to banish mystificatory views of art as inspiration.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2003; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1830