complex (adj.) 1650s, composed of parts, from French complexe complicated, complex, intricate (17c.), from Latin complexus surrounding, encompassing, past participle of complecti to encircle, embrace, in transferred use, to hold fast, master, comprehend, from com- with (see com-) + plectere to weave, braid, twine, entwine, from PIE *plek-to-, from root *plek- to plait (see ply (v.1)). The meaning not easily analyzed is first recorded 1715. Complex sentence is attested from 1881. complex (n.) 1650s, a whole comprised of parts, from complex (adj.). Psychological sense of connected group of repressed ideas was established by C.G. Jung, 1907.
Posted on: Fri, 11 Jul 2014 03:24:15 +0000
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