TANGLE

I. verb (~d; tangling) Etymology: Middle English ~n, tagilen, probably short for en~n, from Anglo-French entagler, en~r to prosecute (for), implicate Date: 14th century transitive verb to involve so as to hamper, obstruct, or embarrass, to seize and hold in or as if in a snare ; entrap , to unite or knit together in intricate confusion, intransitive verb to interact in a contentious or conflicting way, to become en~d, II. noun Date: 1615 a ~d twisted mass ; snarl , 2. a complicated or confused state or condition, a state of perplexity or complete bewilderment, a serious altercation ; dispute , neurofibrillary ~ , III. noun Etymology: of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse thǫngull ~, thang seaweed Date: 1536 a large seaweed