puzzle

1. (transitive) To perplex, confuse, or mystify; to cause (someone) to be faced with a mystery, without answers or an explanation.Examples: "Mens daily occaſions for themſelves or friends, and the neceſities of common life, require the doing of a thouſand things vvithin the compaſs of a fevv dayes, for vvhich it vvould puzzle the beſt Textman that liveth; readily to bethink himself of a ſentence in the Bible, clear enough to ſatisfie a ſcrupulous conſcience of the lavvfulneſs and expediency of vvhat he is about to do; […]"; "[H]e has a very ſmart VVit, and is a very ſhrevvd Diſputant in thoſe Points himſelf ſeems moſt puzzled in, and is therein very dexterous in puzzling others, if they be not thorough-paced Speculators in thoſe great Theories."; "He is perpetually puzzled and perplexed amidst his own blunders."

2. (intransitive) To think long and carefully in bewilderment.Examples: "We puzzled over the curious-shaped lock, but were unable to discover how the key should be inserted."

3. (transitive) To make intricate or difficult to resolve; to entangle.Examples: "The Ways of Heav’n are dark and intricate, / Puzzled in Mazes, and perplext with Errors; / Our Underſtanding traces ’em in vain, / Loſt and bewilder’d in the fruitleſs Search; […]"; "They disentangle from the puzzled skein."