nonplussed
See also: non-plussed
English
Etymology
From an earlier verb form of nonplus, from (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Latin nōn plūs (“no more, no further”), early 1600s.[1] [2]
Pronunciation
- Lua error in Module:parameters at line 290: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "UK" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. IPA(key): /nɒnˈplʌst/
- Lua error in Module:parameters at line 290: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "GA" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. IPA(key): /nɑnˈplʌst/
- Rhymes: -ʌst
Adjective
nonplussed (comparative more nonplussed, superlative most nonplussed)
- Bewildered; unsure how to respond or act. [from 17th c.]
- 1724, Daniel Defoe, Roxana: The Fortunate Mistress:
- Note, the honest Quaker was nonplussed, and greatly surprised at that question.
- 1922 February, James Joyce, “[Episode 16]”, in Ulysses, Paris: Shakespeare and Company, […], →OCLC:
- For the nonce he was rather nonplussed but inasmuch as the duty plainly devolved upon him to take some measures on the subject he pondered suitable ways and means during which Stephen repeatedly yawned.
- 2000, Marcia Miller & Martin Lee, Vocabulary, Word of the Day
- "Dad was so nonplussed by the new VCR that he gave up and asked Mom to set it for him".
- 1724, Daniel Defoe, Roxana: The Fortunate Mistress:
- (proscribed, US, informal) Unfazed, unaffected, or unimpressed. [from 20th c.]
- 2002 April 14, Debra Pickett, “SUNDAY LUNCH WITH”, in Chicago Sun-Times, page 24:
- And while many of us might be a little taken aback if Mom showed up at our offices, Secrist is utterly nonplussed, even happy about it.
- Lua error in Module:quote at line 2946: Parameter "vol" is not used by this template.
- 2004 June, Jane McConnell, “Head Out!”, in Sunset, volume 212, number 6, page 140:
- My screams woke everyone […] . My brother-in-law, Mike, was nonplussed: “Why would you get excited over a little bug like that?”
Usage notes
In recent North American English nonplussed has acquired the alternative meaning of "unimpressed".[1] In 1999, this was considered a neologism, ostensibly from "not plussed", although "plussed" by itself is not a recognized English word. The "unimpressed" meaning is proscribed as nonstandard by at least one authoritative source.[3]
Synonyms
- (bewildered): perplexed, vexed, thwarted, frustrated, foiled, confounded
Translations
bewildered
|
unimpressed
|
Verb
nonplussed
- simple past and past participle of nonplus