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bedevil (v.)

1768, "to treat diabolically, abuse," from be- + verbal use of devil (q.v.). Meaning "to mischievously confuse" is from 1755; that of "to drive frantic" is from 1823. Related: Bedeviled (1570s in a literal sense, "possessed"); bedeviling.

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Definitions of bedevil from WordNet

bedevil (v.)
treat cruelly;
Synonyms: torment / rag / crucify / dun / frustrate
bedevil (v.)
be confusing or perplexing to; cause to be unable to think clearly;
From wordnet.princeton.edu