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Added 9 October 2026

complicate

/ˈkɑmplɪkeɪt/ verb

Latin root: complicātus First recorded: early 17th century Wiktionary

verb Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about complicate at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Make more complicated.
There was a new development that complicated the matter
Make more complex, intricate, or richer.
refine a design or pattern

Origin

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”).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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