complicate
to make something harder by folding in more parts
Roots
Other words with the plic root
- explicable: able to be explained
- explicit: clearly stated or shown
- implication: something suggested but not directly stated
- implicit: implied rather than directly stated
- imply: to suggest without stating directly
Com- plus plic gives fold together. To complicate a situation is to fold more pieces into it until the simple shape disappears.
One extra requirement complicated an application that had looked straightforward.