maze
noun
- puzzle game in the form of a complex branching passage
Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /ˈmeɪz/
name
Etymology: * As an English surname, variant of Mays. * As an English and Irish surname, variant of Maye, from Irish Ó Miadhaigh (“descendant of Miadhach”), see miadh (“esteem, respect”). Compare May. * As a Breton surname Mazé, shortened from Mazéo, Breton form of Matthew. * As a French surname Mazé, from a place in Maine-et-Loire, from Latin Masiacum (“estate of Masius”). * Also as a French surname, shortened pet form of Thomas. * Also as a French surname, variant of Mas, from the noun mas (“farmhouse”). * As a Slovene surname, shortened from Tomaž, a form of Thomas. Or, from the verb mazati (“to grease”). * As an Ashkenazic Jewish surname, from Hebrew מאז״ה (Mazeh), an acronym of מִזֶּרַע אַהֲרֹן הַכֹּהֵן (mi-zéra' Aharón ha-Kohén, “from the seed of Aaron the priest”), compare Cohen.
- A surname.
- A former prison in Northern Ireland; in full, HM Prison Maze.
- A townland in County Down, Northern Ireland, the site of the former prison (Irish grid ref J 2261).
- An unincorporated community in Delaware Township, Juniata County, Pennsylvania, United States.
noun
Etymology: From Middle English mase, from Middle English masen (“to perplex, bewilder”); or perhaps from Old English *mæs (“delusion, bewilderment”); akin to Old English āmasian (“to perplex, confound”), Icelandic masa (“to chatter”). More at amaze.
- A labyrinth; a puzzle consisting of a complicated network of paths or passages, the aim of which is to find one's way through.
“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.”
- Something made up of many confused or conflicting elements; a tangle.
“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.”
“The project developer, Poseidon Resources Corp., has been winding its way through a maze of state and local agencies for six years”
- A 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.”
verb
Etymology: From Middle English mase, from Middle English masen (“to perplex, bewilder”); or perhaps from Old English *mæs (“delusion, bewilderment”); akin to Old English āmasian (“to perplex, confound”), Icelandic masa (“to chatter”). More at amaze.
- To amaze, astonish, bewilder.
“they so mazed and even stupified his Conscience”
- To daze or stupefy.
“mazed […] by the eyes of the crowd”
“She rowed back alone, the simple soul that was in her forwandered and mazed with excess of joy.”