ə̇mˈbrōl(ˌ)yō, -rȯl- noun
or em·bro·glio “, em-
( -s )
Etymology: Italian imbroglio, from imbrogliare to entangle, confuse, embroil, from Old Italian, from Middle French embrouiller — more at embroil
1. : a confused mass : conglomeration
an imbroglio of papers and books
2.
a. : an intricate or complicated situation (as in a drama or novel)
b. : an acutely painful or embarrassing misunderstanding
an imbroglio between foreign ministers
c. : a violently confused or bitterly complicated altercation : embroilment
an imbroglio over misuses of public funds
3. : a musical passage designed to effect confusion by sharply contrasting the rhythm and meter (as between the voice parts in an opera)