complicate
verbadjectiveattested in dialogue
- United Kingdom//ˈkɒmplɪkeɪt//
- United Kingdom//ˈkɒmplɪkət//
- United States//ˈkɑmplɪkeɪt//
To make complex; to modify so as to make something intricate or difficult.
verb
- 1
To make complex; to modify so as to make something intricate or difficult.
Let us, however, put aside for the moment the mendacities and forgeries which complicate the question of Lucifer, and let us approach Palladism from an altogether different side.
- 2
To involve in a convoluted matter.
Don't complicate yourself in issues that are beyond the scope of your understanding.
John has been complicated in the affair by new tapes that surfaced.
The DA has made every effort to complicate me in the scandal.
- 3
To coexist with (another disease) creating a complication.
Masked or larvate malaria, like pernicious malaria, needs complete overhauling. Nearly every disease in the category has been confounded with malaria and classed as larvate. This heterogeneous group has been expanded to embrace diseases unrelated to malaria, diseases complicating malaria, and symptoms and sequelæ of malaria.
Etymology
First attested in the early 17th century; borrowed from Latin complicātus, perfect passive participle of complicō (“to fold together, fold up”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix) and -ate (adjective-forming suffix)), from con- (“with, together with, in the company of, in connection with, along with, together, and”) + plicō (“to fold, wind, coil”); see plaid, and compare complex. See also Middle English complicate (“involved”).
adjective
- 1
obsoleteIntertwined.
- 2
archaicComplex, complicated.
How poor ? how rich ? how abject ? how auguſt ? ¶ How complicat ? how wonderful is Man ?
Forms
- comparative
- more complicate
- superlative
- most complicate
- past tense
- complicated
- past participle
- complicated
- present participle
- complicating
- third person singular
- complicates
complicate · To make complex; to modify so as to make something intricate or difficult.
complicated · Difficult or convoluted.complication · The act or process of complicating.compliment · An expression of praise, congratulation, or respect.