labyrinthine

the word 'labyrinthine' is built directly upon the noun 'labyrinth', which entered english from latin 'labyrinthus', itself borrowed from greek 'labyrinthos'. the greek term referred to the legendary, intricate maze constructed by daedalus to contain the minotaur. the suffix '-ine', of latin origin via french, is a common adjectival formative meaning "of the nature of" or "resembling". therefore, the literal construction "labyrinth-like" perfectly captures the modern abstract meanings of being exceedingly complex, winding, or difficult to navigate, whether describing a physical path, a bureaucratic process, or a line of reasoning.

Structure: labyrinth (maze) + ine (adjective suffix) labyrinth (from greek labyrinthos, a complex maze, especially the one built for the minotaur in crete); ine (a suffix of latin origin used to form adjectives meaning "of or pertaining to", "like", or "characteristic of")