I. -kə̇t, usu -kə̇d.+V adjective
Etymology: Middle English (Scots), from Latin intricatus, past participle of intricare to entangle
1. : having many interwinding, intermeshing, or nicely or complexly interrelating parts, phases, patterns, or elements and being consequently perplexing and hard to grasp in detail, follow through, or execute
a mazy dance in imitation of the intricate windings of the labyrinth — J.G.Frazer
the wheels, cogs, levers, all the intricate parts of the hay-loading machine — Sherwood Anderson
intricate interlaced diamonds — American Guide Series: Maryland
2. : showing an involvement or complexity of various detailed considerations or notions and hence requiring precise analysis : difficult to cope with, resolve, analyze, or solve
the intricate task of reorganizing the economic system on an equitable basis — J.A.Hobson
our system of civil courts was very intricate , and no explanation could be given of it without a long historical preamble — F.W.Maitland
Synonyms: see complex
II. ˈin.trə̇ˌkāt, -trēˌ-, usu -ād.+V transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Latin intricatus, past participle of intricare to entangle, from in- in- (II) + tricae trifles, impediments, perplexities; perhaps akin to Latin torquēre to twist — more at torture
1.
a. obsolete : entangle , ensnare
b. : interrelate , interlock , intermesh
so conconsistently intricated that one rests on another and is involved with what was earlier — Marianne Moore
a career … intricated with an epoch — Lucien Price
pseudopodia, reticulated and intricated — Biological Abstracts
2. archaic : to make intricate : complicate