By the end of the week, the silence on the part of his "tutor" had become somewhat puzzling, if not downright irritating.

This was somewhat puzzling, but she trusted him.

The overlap was somewhat puzzling, because the two opinions expressed very different, even contradictory, views about what the majority had accomplished.

Other letters were somewhat puzzling, though arguably more interesting.

The fall from grace of the brokerage firms has been somewhat puzzling, given that they have had such a good year.

And for those who have not made caviar a habit, buying it always seems to be somewhat puzzling, a little like shopping for good jewelry.

A radiant, if somewhat puzzling, future is in store for all those who keep the faith.

Prices of crude oil yesterday advanced to their highest level since July 1987, largely on the continued, and somewhat puzzling, demand for unleaded gasoline.

Mr. Johnson, who has received admiring reviews in his seven previous seasons with the company, gives a somewhat puzzling performance.

Polls produced mixed, somewhat puzzling responses, but none of them seemed to portend a widespread movement to swear off spending.