Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Perplex \Per*plex"\, a. [L. perplexus entangled, intricate; per
   + plectere, plexum, to plait, braid: cf. F. perplexe. See
   {Per-}, and {Plait}.]
   Intricate; difficult. [Obs.] --Glanvill.

Perplex \Per*plex"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Perplexed}; p. pr. &
   vb. n. {Perplexing}.] [L. perplexari. See {Perplex}, a.]
   1. To involve; to entangle; to make intricate or complicated,
      and difficult to be unraveled or understood; as, to
      perplex one with doubts.

            No artful wildness to perplex the scene. --Pope.

            What was thought obscure, perplexed, and too hard
            for our weak parts, will lie open to the
            understanding in a fair view.         --Locke.

   2. To embarrass; to puzzle; to distract; to bewilder; to
      confuse; to trouble with ambiguity, suspense, or anxiety.
      ``Perplexd beyond self-explication.'' --Shak.

            We are perplexed, but not in despair. --2 Cor. iv.
                                                  8.

            We can distinguish no general truths, or at least
            shall be apt to perplex the mind.     --Locke.

   3. To plague; to vex; to tormen. --Glanvill.

   Syn: To entangle; involve; complicate; embarrass; puzzle;
        bewilder; confuse; distract. See {Embarrass}.

Source : WordNet®

perplex
     v 1: be a mystery or bewildering to; "This beats me!"; "Got me--I
          don't know the answer!"; "a vexing problem"; "This
          question really stuck me" [syn: {vex}, {stick}, {get}, {puzzle},
           {mystify}, {baffle}, {beat}, {pose}, {bewilder}, {flummox},
           {stupefy}, {nonplus}, {gravel}, {amaze}, {dumbfound}]
     2: make more complicated; "There was a new development that
        complicated the matter" [syn: {complicate}] [ant: {simplify}]