stymie

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun a situation in golf where an opponent's ball blocks the line between your ball and the hole
  2. noun a thwarting and distressing situation
  3. verb hinder or prevent the progress or accomplishment of

Etymology

From the meaning in golf (where the stymie ball blocks the other ball from "seeing" the hole), perhaps from Scots stymie, stimie (“person with poor eyesight”), from Scots stime (“the least bit”). Or from Scots styme (“tiny bit, glimmer”) as in se nocht ane styme (“not to see a glimmer (of something)”). If so, it is a doublet of stime.

In classic literature

Synonyms

stymy

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