different between multifarious vs labyrinthine

English

Etymology

From Latin multif?rius.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?m?l.t??f???.i.?s/

Adjective

multifarious (comparative more multifarious, superlative most multifarious)

1. Having great diversity or variety; of various kinds; made up of many differing parts; manifold.
   • 2005, Plato, Sophist (translation by Lesley Brown), 225c.

     It is divided into parts that are too small and multifarious.

2. (law, of lawsuits) In which a party or a cause of action has been improperly or wrongfully joined together in the same suit, as in a misjoinder, perhaps as a result of a joinder of unrelated, distinct, independent parties or matters.

Synonyms

• (having great diversity or variety;): diverse, various; See also Thesaurus:heterogeneous

Translations

References

English

Etymology

From labyrinth +? -ine.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /læb.????n.??n/, /læb.????n.?in/, /læb.????n.?a?n/
• ,

Adjective

labyrinthine (comparative more labyrinthine, superlative most labyrinthine)

1. Physically resembling a labyrinth; with the qualities of a maze.
   • 1996, Steen L. Jensen, H. Gregerson. M. H. Shokouh-Amin, F. G. Moody, (eds.), Essentials of Experimental Surgery: Gastroenterology, page 27/4

     In the pyloric canal, muscular ridges are more fixed than elsewhere and produce quite a labyrinthine surface.

   • 2011, Lincoln Child, Deep Storm, page 185

     Crane trotted along the labyrinthine corridors of deck 3, accompanied by a young marine with close-cropped blond hair.

2. (anatomy) Relating to the labyrinth of the ear
3. (figuratively) Convoluted, baffling, confusing, perplexing.
   • 2000, Joseph J. Ellis, Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation, page 51

     Any attempt to answer that question would carry us into the labyrinthine corridors of Jefferson's famously elusive mind.

   • 2005, Michael W. Riley, "Plato's Cratylus: Argument, form, and structure", page 103

     By coupling "essence" with "name" within a series of contraposed pairs of names, Socrates indicates the point to which he thinks his labyrinthine argument has led so far in the Cratylus.

Synonyms

• (resembling a labyrinth): labyrinthal, labyrinthial, labyrinthian, labyrinthic, labyrinthical, labyrinthiform
• (twisting, convoluted): baffling, confusing, convoluted

Related terms

Translations