maze

plural mazes

1. A labyrinth; a puzzle consisting of a complicated network of paths or passages, the aim of which is to find one's way through.

   1 more example

   There's plenty for toddlers too: experience the Wild West in Bear City, play with sand diggers, splash in the paddling pool and discover meerkats, reptiles and alpacas in the Zoo-Farm. Rain doesn't stop play, just head for the indoor fun factory with a rocking and rolling tugboat, mirror maze, ferris wheel and soft play.

   2012 May 30, Hayley Spurway, “Top 10 family days out in south Devon”, in the Guardian

   Synonyms: warren

2. Something made up of many confused or conflicting elements; a tangle.

   The project developer, Poseidon Resources Corp., has been winding its way through a maze of state and local agencies for six years

   2009 May 11, “Nation's largest desal project faces financing hurdles”, in New York Times

   1 more example

   A beech wood with silver firs in it rolled down the face of the hill, and the maze of leafless twigs and dusky spires cut sharp against the soft blueness of the evening sky.

   1907 January, Harold Bindloss, chapter 1, in The Dust of Conflict, 1st Canadian edition, Toronto, Ont.: McLeod & Allen, →OCLC

3. archaicA confusion of thought; a state of bewilderment.

   But first they came to Canterbury, an olde Citie, somewhat decayed, yet beautiful to behold, most famous for a Cathedrall Church, the very Maiestie whereoff, stroke them into a maze, where they saw many monuments, and heard tell of greater, then either they euer saw, or easely would beleeue.

   1580, John Lyly, “Euphues and His England”, in The Complete Works of John Lyly, published 1906, page 36

   Synonyms: perplexity, uncertainty

present singular third person mazes · participle present mazing · participle past mazed · past mazed

1. archaictransitiveTo amaze, astonish, bewilder.

   they so mazed and even stupified his Conscience

   1692–1717, Robert South, Twelve Sermons Preached upon Several Occasions, volume (please specify |volume=I to VI), London

2. archaictransitiveTo daze or stupefy.

   mazed […] by the eyes of the crowd

   1857, Anthony Trollope, Barchester Towers

   1 more example

   She rowed back alone, the simple soul that was in her forwandered and mazed with excess of joy.

   1895, S. R. Crockett, A Cry Across the Black Water

1. A surname.
2. A former prison in Northern Ireland; in full, HM Prison Maze.
3. A townland in County Down, Northern Ireland, the site of the former prison (Irish grid ref J 2261).
4. An unincorporated community in Delaware Township, Juniata County, Pennsylvania, United States.