implicate

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   bring into intimate and incriminating connection

   They are implicated in the scheme to defraud the government.

2. 2
   verb

   To show to be connected or involved in an unfavorable or criminal way.

   The evidence implicates involvement of top management in the scheme.

3. 3
   verb

   To imply, to have as a necessary consequence or accompaniment.

   What did Nixon's visit to China implicate for Russia?

4. 4
   verb

   impose, involve, or imply as a necessary accompaniment or result

5. 5
   verb

   To imply without entailing; to have as an implicature.

6. 6
   verb

   To fold or twist together, intertwine, interlace, entangle, entwine.

7. 7
   noun

   The thing implied.

8. 8
   adj

   Intertwined, enfolded, twisted together; wrapped up (with), entangled, involved (in).

Etymology

First attested in the 15th century, in Middle English; inherited from Middle English implicaten (poorly attested), from implicat(e) (“wrapped, entwined; involved, connected (with)”, possibly also used as the past participle of implicaten) + -en (verb-forming suffix), borrowed from Latin implicātus, perfect passive participle of implicō (“to entangle, involve”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from plicō (“to fold”). Doublet of imply and employ.