different between imply vs complicate

English

Etymology

From Middle English implien, emplien, borrowed from Old French emplier, from Latin implicare (“to infold, involve”), from in (“in”) + plicare (“to fold”). Doublet of employ and implicate.

Pronunciation

• (General American, Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?m?pla?/
• Rhymes: -a?
• Hyphenation: im?ply

Verb

imply (third-person singular simple present implies, present participle implying, simple past and past participle implied)

1. (transitive, of a proposition) to have as a necessary consequence

2. (transitive, of a person) to suggest by logical inference

3. (transitive, of a person or proposition) to hint; to insinuate; to suggest tacitly and avoid a direct statement

4. (archaic) to enfold, entangle.

Conjugation

Usage notes

• This is a catenative verb that takes the gerund (-ing). See Appendix:English catenative verbs

Synonyms

• (to have as a necessary consequence): entail
• (to suggest tacitly): allude, hint, insinuate, suggest

Related terms

• implicate
• implication
• implicative
• implicit
• implicitness
• implision

Translations

See also

• connotation
• entail

Further reading

• imply in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• imply in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin complicatus, past participle of complicare (“to fold together”), from com- (“together”) + plicare (“to fold, weave, knit”); see plaid, and compare complex.

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /?k?mpl?ke?t/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?k?mpl?ke?t/
• Hyphenation: com?pli?cate

Verb

complicate (third-person singular simple present complicates, present participle complicating, simple past and past participle complicated)

1. (transitive) To make complex; to modify so as to make something intricate or difficult.
   • 1896, Arthur Edward Waite, Devil-Worship in France, or the Question of Lucifer Chapter 14

     Let us, however, put aside for the moment the mendacities and forgeries which complicate the question of Lucifer, and let us approach Palladism from an altogether different side.

2. (transitive) To involve in a convoluted matter.

   Don't complicate yourself in issues that are beyond the scope of your understanding.

   John has been complicated in the affair by new tapes that surfaced.

   The DA has made every effort to complicate me in the scandal.

Synonyms

• (involve in a convoluted matter): intricate, entangle, embroil, mix up (in something), mire

Related terms

• complication
• explicate

Translations

See also

• complex

Adjective

complicate (comparative more complicate, superlative most complicate)

1. (obsolete) Intertwined.
2. (now rare, poetic) Complex, complicated.
   • 1745, Edward Young, Night-Thoughts, I:

     How poor, how rich, how abject, how august, / How complicate, how wonderful, is Man!

Further reading

• complicate in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• complicate in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

Italian

Adjective

complicate

1. feminine plural of complicato

Verb

complicate

1. second-person plural present indicative of complicare
2. second-person plural imperative of complicare
3. feminine plural of complicato

Latin

Verb

complic?te

1. second-person plural present active imperative of complic?