nonplus

non·plus

noun

Nonplus is a state of confusion where you don't know what to do, think or say.

An example of nonplus is being told to turn right on Fifth Street while approaching the intersection where North Fifth Street is to the left and South Fifth Street is to the right.

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"Nonplus." YourDictionary. LoveToKnow. www.yourdictionary.com/Nonplus.

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Nonplus. (n.d.). In YourDictionary. Retrieved from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Nonplus

nonplus

a condition of perplexity in which one is unable to go, speak, or act further

Origin of nonplus

Classical Latin non, not + plus, more: see plus

transitive verb

-·plussed′ or -·plused′, -·plus′sing or -·plus′ing

to put in a nonplus; bewilder

Link/Cite

Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"Nonplus." YourDictionary. LoveToKnow. www.yourdictionary.com/Nonplus.

APA Style

Nonplus. (n.d.). In YourDictionary. Retrieved from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Nonplus

nonplus

transitive verb

non·plussed, non·plus·sing, non·plus·ses, also non·plused non·plus·ing non·plus·es

To put at a loss as to what to think, say, or do; bewilder.
Usage Problem To cause to feel indifferent or bored.

noun

A state of bewilderment or perplexity.

Origin of nonplus

From Latin nōn plūs no more nōn not ; see non- . plūs more ; see pelə-¹ in Indo-European roots.

Usage Note: The verb nonplus, from the Latin phrase nōn plūs, “not more,” is well established with the meaning “to surprise and bewilder.” The verb and its participial adjective nonplussed often imply that the affected person is at a loss for words. This use of the word was acceptable to 90 percent of the Usage Panel in our 2013 survey in the sentence The scientists were completely nonplussed—the apparatus had not acted at all as they had expected. However, the word is frequently used to mean “to make indifferent, bore,” as if the plus part of the word meant “to overcome with excitement.” This usage is still controversial and should probably be avoided, since it may well be viewed as a mistake. In our 2013 survey, 57 percent of the Panel rejected the sentence The nine panelists showed little emotion during the broadcast and were generally nonplussed by the outcome. This percentage is almost unchanged from the 61 percent of the Panel who rejected the same sentence in 2001.

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.