Karen is often bemused
This Week’s Word: Bemused /bɪˈmyuzd/ adj.
Bemused describes someone bewildered, perplexed or lost in thought. While an easy way to remember the definition may be that it rhymes and is synonymous with “confused,” one should note that it carries with it—or in some contexts means—a sense of preoccupation.
Synonyms: confused, dazed, distracted, puzzled
Etymology: The adjective bemused is the past participle form of the verb bemuse, meaning “to confuse or bewilder.” It is often mistaken for having a similar meaning as amuse, and, indeed, the two are related. Both are formed by adding a prefix to the verb muse, which means “to think or meditate” (you may be more familiar with the noun musings meaning “thoughts”). Amuse, however, was borrowed into middle English shortly after the original verb with the prefix a-, which is commonly added to words borrowed from the romance languages and means “to” or “toward”; things that amuse us inspire us to think, push us toward musings, in a sense. The prefix be-, however, is an Old English prefix that wasn’t applied to the verb until the early 18th century. When used with a verb, the prefix be- is an intensifier (for example, to rate something involves analyzing and criticizing, but to berate [scold] someone is a step past criticism). When someone or something bemuses us, we could say it overwhelms us with musings, leaving us confused and preoccupied.
The College Board loves to use this as a tone word, probably because students assume its meaning is somehow related to “amuse” (which, as shown, is true, but not in the way students would guess). I honestly can’t even remember a time that it was the right answer, but I guess there’s no reason that it couldn’t be if it actually fits the tone/attitude/mood of the passage/narrator/character. Since you’re a savvy test-taker who reads college compass, however, you’ll know if it’s the appropriate term.
Sample: The deluge of new information about her estranged brother left Elvira bemused.
Sample 2: The bemused poet was so lost in thought that he didn’t hear the waitress the first time she announced that the coffee shop was closing.
