Be*muse" (&?;), v. t. To muddle, daze, or partially stupefy, as with liquor.

A parson much bemused in beer.
Pope.

• To confuse or bewilder, especially regarding emotional matters, for example: "For God's sake, why do people keep using 'bemused' as if it means 'amused'?" asked the bemused editor.
       
• 1735 A parson much be-mus'd in beer. — Alexander Pope, Satires of Dr. Donne versified
       
• 1771 fairy tales bemused the shepherd lies. — James Foot, Penseroso
       
• 1847 The bad metaphysics with which they bemuse themselves. — Hugh Miller, First Impressions of England and its people
  
• (archaic meaning) to devote to the Muses.
       
• 1705 When those incorrigible things, Poets, are once irrecoverably Be-mus'd. — Alexander Pope, Letters