[Peace-discuss] Keywords: obfuscate, obscurantism, bamboozle

[Szoke, Ron]

Keywords  110918
A review of some terms useful in political analysis & polemics

ob·fus·cate  (ŏb′fə-skāt′, ŏb-fŭs′kāt′)
tr.v. ob·fus·cat·ed, ob·fus·cat·ing, ob·fus·cates
1. To make so confused or opaque as to be difficult to perceive or understand: "A great effort was made ... to obscure or obfuscate the truth" (Robert Conquest).
2. To render indistinct or dim; darken: The fog obfuscated the shore.
[Latin obfuscāre, obfuscāt-, to darken : ob-, over; see ob- + fuscāre, to darken (from fuscus, dark).]
ob′fus·ca′tion n.
ob·fus′ca·to′ry (ŏb-fŭs′kə-tôr′ē, əb-) adj.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

obfuscation (ˌɒbfʌsˈkeɪʃən)  n
the act or an instance of making something obscure, dark, or difficult to understand
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

obfuscation
the process of darkening or obscuring so as to hinder ready analysis.
See also: Thinking<https://www.thefreedictionary.com/thinking>

ob·scur·ant·ism  (ŏb-skyo͝or′ən-tĭz′əm, əb-, ŏb′skyo͝o-răn′-)  n.
1. The principles or practice of obscurants.
2. A policy of withholding information from the public.
3. a. A style in art and literature characterized by deliberate vagueness or obliqueness.
b. An example or instance of this style.

ob·scur′ant·ist n.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

ob•scu•rant•ism (əbˈskyʊər ənˌtɪz əm, ˌɒb skyʊˈræn tɪz əm)   n.
1. opposition to the increase and spread of knowledge.
2. deliberate obscurity or evasion of clarity.
ob•scu′rant•ist, n., adj.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

obscurantism
the use of argument intended to prevent enlightenment or to hinder the process of knowledge and wisdom. Also spelled obscuranticism. — obscurantist, n. — obscurant, obscurantic, adj.
See also: Argumentation<https://www.thefreedictionary.com/argumentation>


bam·boo·zle  (băm-bo͞o′zəl)
tr.v. bam·boo·zled, bam·boo·zling, bam·boo·zles Informal
1. To deceive or dupe; hoodwink. See Synonyms at deceive<https://www.thefreedictionary.com/deceive>.
2. To confuse; bewilder.
[Origin unknown.]
bam·boo′zle·ment n.
bam·boo′zler n.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

bamboozle (bæmˈbuːzəl)
vb (tr)
1. to cheat; mislead
2. to confuse
[C18: of unknown origin]
bamˈboozler n
bamˈboozlement n
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

bam•boo•zle (bæmˈbu zəl)

v. -zled, -zling. v.t.
1. to deceive or get the better of by underhandedness; hoodwink.
2. to perplex; mystify.
v.i.
3. to practice trickery, deception, or the like.
[1695–1705; orig. uncertain]
bam•boo′zle•ment, n.
bam•boo′zler, n.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

—  from the online Free Dictionary by Farlex (q.v.)
——

[Sagan on bamboozle.jpg]
From:  The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark  (1996), p. 241.

Frequently noted:  It is usually far easier to bamboozle people than to get them to admit they have been bamboozled.   (“I’m much too smart, knowledgable & sophisticated to fall for THAT!” )
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