'Confused'

[Arnold M. Zwicky]

On Sep 15, 2004, at 9:01 AM, David Barnhart wrote in response to Geoff
Nathan:

> Does OED def. 5 cover this?
>
> "said of perceptions or notions in which the elements or parts are
> mixed up..." 1811

i don't think so.  geoff's example "Students confused or unaware of key
rights" has a human subject, and i suspect that the other examples he
has in mind (with the meanings 'puzzled' or 'uncertain') also have
human subjects.

once you can get "be confused" with human subjects, expressing
confusion -- multiple possibilities -- about the stance the subject
should take towards some situation, then it's just a short step to mere
puzzlement or uncertainty with respect to situations.  this would be a
rather ordinary sort of semantic extension or generalization.

arnold (zwicky at csli.stanford.edu)