Does that bemuse you?

Have you ever been to a dinner party or chatted with someone and they tried to toss in word slightly more upscale than their usual linguistic range? Most of the time, you kind of get what they mean, so out of politeness, you nod and move on — that's what context is for after all.

But it seems now that people have been getting away with specific horrible misuses of words more commonly now, and it just has to stop.

First off — bemused.

It does not mean amused, which is the misuse I've seen too many times to count. People, it is more akin to confused.

from answers.com :

be·muse (bĭ-myūz')
tr.v., -mused, -mus·ing, -mus·es.
1. To cause to be bewildered; confuse. See synonyms at daze.
2. To cause to be engrossed in thought.

I don't see anything amusing in there at all.

Secondly — nonplussed.

I does not mean unimpressed, or was kind of 'whatever' about it. Shockingly, it means something closer to confused. Again.

from answers.com:

non·plus (nŏn-plŭs')
tr.v., -plussed also -plused, -plus·sing -plus·ing, -plus·ses -plus·es.
To put at a loss as to what to think, say, or do; bewilder.
n.
A state of perplexity, confusion, or bewilderment.

So, if you ever find yourself bewildered or confused about the meanings of these two words, just roll with it. That is, after all, their meaning.

. . .

Lest you think I'm on a language high horse, at least I'm not arguing about how to pronounce "pwn".