Apedia

Nonplus Noun People Means Native American Nahn Plus Verb

Nonplus means to leave someone perplexed, unsure of what to do, think, or say.

Nonplus significa dejar a alguien perplejo, sin saber qué hacer, pensar o decir.

Front nonplus \nahn-PLUS\
Back verb
To put at a loss for what to do, think, or say; perplex.

noun
A state of perplexity or bewilderment.

[Does "nonplus" perplex you? You aren't alone. Some people believe the "non" in "nonplus" means "not" and assume that to be "nonplussed" is to be calm and poised when just the opposite is true. If you are among the baffled, the word's history may clarify things. In Latin, "non plus" means "no more." When "nonplus" debuted in English in the 16th century, it was used as a noun synonymous with "quandary." Someone brought to a nonplus had reached an impasse in an argument and could say no more. Within 10 years of the first known use of the noun, people began using "nonplus" as a verb, and today it is often used in participial form with the meaning "perplexed" (as in "Joellen's nasty remark left us utterly nonplussed").]

"Until this encounter, my only knowledge of codes was the Navajo Code Talkers, the World War II Native American group who used their native language to nonplus the enemy." - Jane Greig; Higshmrk E Qcwxivc (No, That's Not A Typo); Austin American Statesman; Sep 14, 2003.

"Larger seeds, such as corn, peas, beans and squash, may be planted the usual way, then immediately covered with a loose hay mulch, 1 or 2 inches thick. Covering the corn seeds nonpluses the crows." - Ruth Stout; The Couch I Live On; Organic Gardening (New York); Jul 17, 1996.

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