complicate

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To make something more difficult to understand or deal with.

   A new development complicated the matter.

2. 2
   verb

   To get yourself involved in a difficult or confusing situation.

   Don't complicate yourself in issues that are beyond you.

First attested in the early 17ᵗʰ century; borrowed from Latin complicātus, perfect passive participle of complicō (“to fold together”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix) and -ate (adjective-forming suffix)), from con- (“together”) + plicō (“to fold, weave, knit”); see plaid, and compare complex. See also Middle English complicate (“involved”).

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