The expression “coffee break” was first attested in 1952 in glossy magazine advertisements by the Pan-American Coffee Bureau.
BEDEVIL
confuse, throw, fox, befuddle, fuddle, bedevil, confound, discombobulate
(verb) be confusing or perplexing to; cause to be unable to think clearly; “These questions confuse even the experts”; “This question completely threw me”; “This question befuddled even the teacher”
torment, rag, bedevil, crucify, dun, frustrate
(verb) treat cruelly; “The children tormented the stuttering teacher”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Verb
bedevil (third-person singular simple present bedevils, present participle bedevilling or bedeviling, simple past and past participle bedevilled or bedeviled)
To harass or cause trouble for; to plague.
To perplex or bewilder.
Usage notes
• The spellings bedeviling and bedeviled are preferred in the US, while bedevilling and bedevilled are preferred in the UK. However, the choice of spellings is not universal.
Anagrams
• b'lieved, believ'd, beviled
Source: Wiktionary
Be*dev"il, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bedevilled (p. pr. & vb. n. Bedeviling or Bedevilling.]
1. To throw into utter disorder and confusion, as if by the agency of evil spirits; to bring under diabolical influence; to torment. Bedeviled and used worse than St. Bartholomew. Sterne.
2. To spoil; to corrupt. Wright.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
Recent Word Finds
Word of the Day
31 May 2025
AMATORY
(adjective) expressive of or exciting sexual love or romance; “her amatory affairs”; “amorous glances”; “a romantic adventure”; “a romantic moonlight ride”
Coffee Trivia
