different between intricate vs spellwork

English

Etymology 1

From Latin intricatus, past participle of intricare.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /??n.t??.k?t/

Adjective

intricate (comparative more intricate, superlative most intricate)

1. Having a great deal of fine detail or complexity.
   • As a matter of fact its narrow ornate façade presented not a single quiet space that the eyes might rest on after a tiring attempt to follow and codify the arabesques, foliations, and intricate vermiculations of what some disrespectfully dubbed as “near-aissance.”

Translations

Etymology 2

As the adjective; or by analogy with extricate

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /??n.t??.ke?t/

Verb

intricate (third-person singular simple present intricates, present participle intricating, simple past and past participle intricated)

1. (intransitive) To become enmeshed or entangled.
   • 1864 October 18, J.E. Freund, “How to Avoid the Use of Lint”, letter to the editor, in The New York Times (1864 October 23):

     […] washes off easily, without sticking or intricating into the wound.

2. (transitive) To enmesh or entangle: to cause to intricate.
   • 1994 December 12, William Safire, “Avoid Dunkirk II” (essay), in The New York Times:

     But the British and French won't hear of that; they want to get their troops extricated and our ground troops intricated.

References

• intricate at OneLook Dictionary Search

Anagrams

• acitretin, triacetin, triactine

Italian

Adjective

intricate f pl

1. feminine plural of intricato

Verb

intricate

1. second-person plural present of intricare
2. second-person plural imperative of intricare
3. feminine plural past participle of intricare

Anagrams

• recintati
• trinciate

Latin

Verb

intr?c?te

1. second-person plural present active imperative of intr?c?

English

Alternative forms

• spell work, spell-work

Etymology

spell +? work

Noun

spellwork (uncountable)

1. Any magical practice involving creating or casting spells, especially new enchantments or spells which are intricate or complex.
   • 1994, Edain McCoy, A Witch's Guide to Faery Folk, ?ISBN, p. 116:

     All spellwork with faeries should be done within the safe confines of your circle, with the faeries just outside its perimeter.

   • 2009, Louie Jerome, Peter and the Black Dog, ?ISBN, p. 46:

     I did have a passing interest in Wicca, but once I realized that spell work was involved, I stopped.

2. The formula or formulation of one or more spells or enchantments; the individual parts constituting such a formulation; the inner workings or structure of a spell.
   • 1993, "Celtic Magic by D. J. Conway" (advertisement) in Ted Andrews, Enchantment of the Faerie Realm, ?ISBN, p. 224:

     There is also an in-depth discussion of Celtic deities and the Celtic way of life and worship, so that an intermediate practitioner can expand upon the spellwork to build a series of magical rituals.

   • 2001, Richard A. Knaak, Legacy of Blood, ?ISBN, p. 82:

     The spellwork she had utilized to quicker get her to her destination had taken too much from the dark mage.

Hyponyms

• (magical practice): charmwork, wandwork

Related terms

• spellbook
• spellcraft
• spellfire
• spellcaster
• spellcasting