Word of Whenever: bemused

I was going to title this post "Word of the Day", but this probably won't be a daily thing, even though there are enough words in the English language to satisfy a "Word of the Day" post daily for about 450 years - and that's not counting the words counted as obsolete. So hey, it's Word of Whenever!

Today's word is "bemused".

bemused adj.
1. bewildered or confused
2. lost in thought; preoccupied

I've found that most people think this word means "mildly amused". This makes sense (not only because the word sounds like "amused") because I've usually seen this word used in situations in books where something strange is going on, but not very strange. A tiny man in brightly-colored clothing comes dancing out of a teapot and everyone looks bemused. Assuming the story has been full of odd happenings, it would make sense that everyone is kind of amused. Their bemusedness is usually followed by a chuckle or smile or some other reaction, supporting the idea that "bemused" means "amused".

Other usages of language further this incorrect definition. When people are "bewildered" in stories, they are reeling with confusion and the language of the story will support that. The bewildered character will perhaps take a step back, shake his head in disbelief or gape at whatever has him confused. If someone is "stunned", they may be unable to move or speak and their thoughts might be described to be at a total standstill, or their mind blank.

When someone is "bemused", their reaction isn't so strong. They may quickly shake off the confusion and have a more positive reaction, like smiling or laughing. I've noticed more and more that authors are misusing this word, so the definition "mildly amused" is tacked on to "bemused" more frequently.

So what's the point? I don't really have one. Language evolves. Definitions shift. Context plays a big part in this. A smile or a laugh by themselves are usually positive.

"Tony made a face, sending the children into gales of laughter."

Using the same words, a smile or a laugh become negative or alarming.

"James smiled as Terry screamed in agony."

I think it doesn't matter if "bemused" is used in a way that is considered incorrect. The context will usually show which definition is being used and as long as that's clearly conveyed, then communication is established and the story flows.