intricacy
UK[ˈɪn.trɪ.kə.si]US[ˈɪn.trɪ.kə.si]
n
the quality of having many small parts or details that are arranged in a complicated way
n
something that is complex and difficult to understand or deal with
Morpheme Breakdown
in
tric
acy
in
in
tric
obstacle
acy
state or quality
Etymology
the word intricacy traces its lineage to the latin verb intricare, meaning "to entangle, perplex," which itself is built from the prefix in- ("in") and tricae ("perplexities, hindrances"). the core notion of tricae likely referred to small, obstructive things or tricky complications, a sense preserved in the related english word "extricate," meaning to free from entanglement. over time, the abstract noun formed from intricare evolved in old french as intricatie, entering middle english to describe the state of being entangled or involved in complex details. thus, the modern meaning logically extends from a literal sense of being caught in hindrances to the abstract quality of elaborate and complicated detail.
Analysis
Structure: in (in) + tric (obstacle) + acy (state or quality)
- in: a latin prefix meaning "in, into, within".
- tric: from latin tricae, meaning "perplexities, hindrances, wiles".
- acy: a noun-forming suffix of latin origin (via old french -acie, latin -atia), denoting a state or quality.
Examples
the intricacy of the handmade lace was astonishing.
he struggled to understand the legal intricacies of the contract.
the plot of the novel was praised for its depth and intricacy.