con·found / kənˈfound/ • v. [tr.] 1. cause surprise or confusion in (someone), esp. by acting against their expectations. ∎  prove (a theory, expectation, or prediction) wrong. ∎  defeat (a plan, aim, or hope). ∎ archaic overthrow (an enemy).2. (often be confounded with) mix up (something) with something else so that the individual elements become difficult to distinguish: 'nuke' is now a cooking technique, as microwave radiation is confounded with nuclear radiation.• interj. dated used to express anger or annoyance: oh, confound it, where is the thing?

confound †overthrow XIII; bring to perdition; throw into confusion XIV. — AN. conf(o)undre, (O)F. confondre :- L. confundere pour together, mix up, f. CON- + fundere pour (see FOUND 2).