maze

n. [ OE. mase; cf. OE. masen to confuse, puzzle, Norweg. masast to fall into a slumber, masa to be continually busy, prate, chatter, Icel. masa to chatter, dial. Sw. masa to bask, be slow, work slowly and lazily, mas slow, lazy. ] 1. A wild fancy; a confused notion. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Confusion of thought; perplexity; uncertainty; state of bewilderment. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A confusing and baffling network, as of paths or passages; an intricacy; a labyrinth. “Quaint mazes on the wanton green.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Or down the tempting maze of Shawford brook. Wordaworth. [ 1913 Webster ]

The ways of Heaven are dark and intricate,
Puzzled with mazes, and perplexed with error. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A complex and confusing system or set of rules that causes bwilderment; as, a maze of environemntal regulations. [ PJC ]

Syn. -- Labyrinth; intricacy. See Labyrinth. [ 1913 Webster ]