unperplexv.
/(ˌ)ʌnpəˈplɛks/, U.S. /ˌənpərˈplɛks/ 1. transitive. To put an end to the perplexity, confusion, or affliction of. Also occasionally intr. (cf. perplex v. 1c).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > calmness > compose or make calm [verb (transitive)]
softa1225
stilla1325
coolc1330
accoya1375
appeasec1374
attemperc1386
lullc1386
quieta1398
peasea1400
amesec1400
assuagec1400
mesec1400
soberc1430
modify?a1439
establish1477
establish1477
pacify1484
pacify1515
unbrace?1526
settle1530
steady1530
allay1550
calm1559
compromitc1574
restore1582
recollect1587
serenize1598
smooth1604
compose1607
recompose1611
becalm1613
besoothe1614
unprovokea1616
halcyon1616
unstrain1616
leniate1622
tranquillize1623
unperplexa1631
belull1631
sedate1646
unmaze1647
assopiatea1649
serenate1654
serene1654
tranquillify1683
soothe1697
unalarm1722
reserene1755
quietize1791
peacify1845
quieten1853
conjure1856
peace1864
disfever1880
patise1891
de-tension1961
mellow1974
the mind > mental capacity > intelligibility > meaning > explanation, exposition > expound, explain [verb (transitive)]
arecchec885
unloukOE
overrunOE
sutelec1000
trahtnec1000
unfolda1050
belayc1175
openc1175
onopena1200
accountc1300
undo?a1366
remenea1382
interpret1382
unwrap1387
exploitc1390
enlumine1393
declarec1400
expoundc1400
unplait?c1400
enperc1420
planea1425
clearc1440
exponec1440
to lay outc1440
to give (also carry) lightc1449
unwind1482
expose1483
reducea1500
manifest1530
explicate1531
explaina1535
unlock?1536
dilucidate1538
elucidate1538
illustrate1538
rechec1540
explicate1543
illucidate1545
enucleate1548
unsnarl1555
commonstrate1563
to lay forth1577
straighten1577
unbroid1577
untwist1577
decipherc1586
illuminate1586
enlighten1587
resolvec1592
cipher1594
eliquidate1596
to take (a person) with one1599
rivelc1600
ravel1604
unbowel1606
unmist1611
extricate1614
unbolta1616
untanglea1616
enode1623
unperplexa1631
perspicuate1634
explata1637
unravel1637
esclarea1639
clarify1642
unweave1642
detenebrate1646
dismystery1652
undecipher1654
unfork1654
unparadox1654
reflect1655
enodate1656
unmysterya1661
liquidatea1670
recognize1676
to clear upa1691
to throw sidelight on1726
to throw (also cast, shed) light on (also upon)1731
eclaircise1754
irradiate1864
unbraid1880
predigest1905
to get (something) straight1920
disambiguate1960
demystify1963
a1631 J. Donne Poems (1633) 278 This Extasie doth unperplex (We said) and tell us what we love.
1665 J. Sergeant Sure-footing in Christianity 205 I believe you are in some wonderment..: I shall endeavour to unperplex you.
a1711 T. Ken Edmund ix, in Wks. (1721) II. 238 O Father! you can unperplex my Mind.
a1750 A. Hill Wks. (1753) III. 153 Now, happy, painless hours shall un-perplex The best lov'd pattern of the loveliest sex.
1972 Emporia (Kansas) Gaz. 17 Feb. 9/1 (advt.) And a friendly staff to help ‘unperplex’ you.
2010 H. Jacobson Finkler Question viii. 198 I guess no one ever promised that the process of being unperplexed would be easy.
2. transitive. To disentangle. Usually figurative or in figurative context. Now rare.In quot. 1975 alluding to quot. 1820.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > separation > separation or detachment > loosening or unfastening > loosen, unfasten, or untie [verb (transitive)] > untwist, unravel, etc.
untwinec1407
unlacea1450
untwindc1460
untwist1538
unweave1542
distwine1562
feaze1568
unpleat1572
unspin1587
unplat1589
unwreathe1591
unreave1593
unravel1603
ravel1607
unwrithe1611
uncluea1616
unwork1623
unperplex1660
untwirla1703
unlay1726
disentwine1814
unbraid1828
unmesha1849
disintertwine1861
unplait1865
tiffle out1880
unleeze1889
1660 Glory of West (single sheet) To unperplex the Riddles of our State, And to discover t'us our hidden part.
1689 R. Gould Poems 207 Asks himself Questions which he ne'r can solve, And what he strives to unperplex, does but the more involve.
1820 J. Keats Lamia i, in Lamia & Other Poems 14 Not one hour old, yet of sciential brain To unperplex bliss from its neighbour pain.
1921 Amer. 19 Feb. 433/1 An ardent and generous young spirit..too impatient and untrained to ‘unperplex’ the tangled strands of truth and error.
1975 H. Bloom Map of Misreading i. i. 22 Our divided consciousness, keeping us from being able to unperplex joy from pain, and ruining the presentness of the moment, at least brings us an aesthetic gain.
1991 G. Hill Enemy's Country (1994) i. 9 One cannot unperplex a philosophy of language from an aesthetic of style.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2014; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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