complicated
UK: ˈkɒmplɪkeɪtɪd | US: ˈkɑːmplɪkeɪtɪd
adj. consisting of many interconnected parts; complex
adj. difficult to analyze, understand, or explain
vt. (past tense of "complicate") made complex or intricate
The word "complicated" traces back to Latin complicare ("to fold together"), from com- (intensifying prefix) + plicare ("to fold"). The morpheme plic survives in English as "ply" (to bend) and "pliable." Over time, the literal sense of "folded together" evolved metaphorically to mean "intricate" or "difficult to unravel," reflecting how tangled folds create complexity. The suffix -ated marks it as an adjective.
The instructions were too complicated for beginners.
She avoided discussing her complicated relationship with her family.
The plot of the novel is deliberately complicated to engage readers.
His explanation only complicated the matter further.
Modern smartphones have highly complicated circuitry.