Confounded

ppl. a. [f. prec. vb. + -ED¹. Its use as an adj., and even as a passive pple. in early times was rare, confuse, confused being used instead.]

  1.  Discomfited, abashed, put to shame or mental confusion; confused, disordered, etc.: see the verb.

1362.  Langl., P. Pl., A. XI. 93. He bi-com so confoundet [v.r. confus, confuse] he couthe not mele.

a. 1375.  Joseph Arim., 494. Þe gref is oure childre; What wol bi-falle þer-of and [= if] we ben confoundet.

1572.  Killigrew, Lett., in Tytler, Hist. Scot. (1864), III. 421. My confounded manner of writing.

1665.  Pepys, Diary, 5 Oct. Our confounded business of prisoners, and sick and wounded seamen, wherein he and we are so much put out of order.

1678.  Cudworth, Intell. Syst., 378. Heraclitus was no Clear but a Confounded Philosopher.

1727.  De Foe, Syst. Magic, I. iv. (1840), 106. They were confounded in their accounts.

  2.  Applied by way of execration to any person or thing strongly objected to: see CONFOUND 2.

1652.  H. Bell, trans. Luther’s Table-t., 324. Such confounded and wicked pranks have the Popes plaid.

1712.  Addison, Spect., No. 511, ¶ 1. Those dear confounded Creatures, Women.

1731.  Swift, On his Death. He was a most confounded tory.

1819.  Byron, Juan, I. c. Some confounded escapade.

1835.  Marryat, Jac. Faithf., xlv. There will be no muskets to clean, no drill, and none of your confounded pipe-clay.

1837.  Dickens, Pickw., xix. That’s his impudence—that’s his confounded impudence.

1854.  F. E. Smedley, H. Coverdale’s C., lvi. Those confounded newspapers are sure to get hold of the affair.

  b.  as adv. = CONFOUNDEDLY. (Cf. damned.)

1706–7.  Farquhar, Beaux’ Stratagem, I. i.

1709.  De Foe, Life Rozelli (1713), I. 45. I was confounded mad to see a Rival enjoy [it].

1729.  Swift, Jrnl. Mod. Lady. Was it not confounded hard?

a. 1806.  Kirke White, Rem. (1811), II. 240. I am a confounded proud fellow at bottom.