Definition of the word mystify

The word "mystify" has its origins in the late 16th century and is derived from two Middle English words. The first part, "myst-," comes from the Old French word "myst-, myste," meaning "mystery." The second part, "-fy" is derived from the Middle English verb "fynden," which means "to find" or "to discover." Taken together, "mystify" originally meant "to make mysterious or confusing" – to surround something with an aura of mystery that made it difficult to understand or interpret. The word was first recorded in the English language in 1590, in the play "Love's Labor's Lost" by William Shakespeare, where it appeared as "to make mystic." The meaning of "mystify" has not changed substantially since then, although the usage has broadened to include the idea of intentionally confusing or misleading someone. In modern usage, "mystify" often carries a negative connotation, implying that someone or something that seems inexplicable or overwhelming is actually deliberately obscured or misunderstood. Despite this association with misdirection, the roots of "mystify" reveal that the word originally held a more innocent, neutral significance. In a way, the term suggests that everything is mysterious and confusing until it is properly understood and interpreted, and that to draw meaning and insight from the world, we must sometimes embrace the unknown and allow ourselves to be mystified by the mysteries we encounter.