complicate
UK[ˈkɒmplɪkeɪt]US[ˈkɑːmplɪkeɪt]
v
To make something more difficult or confusing by causing its parts to be connected in complicated ways.
v
(Medical) To cause a disease or condition to become more severe.
Morpheme Breakdown
com
plic
ate
com
together
plic
fold
ate
verb suffix
Etymology
The word 'complicate' originates from the Latin past participle complicatus, meaning "folded together". This derives from the verb complicare, a compound of com- (together) and plicare (to fold). The literal image of folding or intertwining multiple strands together evolved into the metaphorical sense of making an issue intricate or involved. Thus, the core logic of the word has shifted from a physical act of folding to the abstract process of making something complex and difficult to separate.
Analysis
Structure: com (together) + plic (fold) + ate (verb suffix)
- com: Latin origin, a prefix meaning "together" or "with".
- plic: Latin origin, from the root plicāre, meaning "to fold" or "to weave".
- ate: Latin origin, a suffix used to form verbs meaning "to make" or "to cause to be".
Examples
Adding too many rules will only complicate the process.
The infection could complicate his recovery from surgery.
Please don't complicate matters by introducing irrelevant details.