implicate

To show to be connected or involved in an unfavorable or criminal way.

Adjective

  1. Intertwined, enfolded, twisted together; wrapped up (with), entangled, involved (in).

    1. (especially, in quantum theory) used in implicate order

  2. Involved, intricate.

Origin

First attested in the first part of the 15ᵗʰ century, in Middle English; inherited from Middle English implicat(e) (“wrapped, entwined; incolved, connected (with)”), see -ate (adjective-forming suffix), -ate (noun-forming suffix) and Etymology 1 for more.

Forms

more implicate most implicate

Related

implication implicative implicature implicit implicitness imply

Derived

implicate order

Noun

  1. The thing implied.

    Coordinate Terms: implicand implicans

Forms

implicates

Verb

  1. To show to be connected or involved in an unfavorable or criminal way.
    • The evidence implicates involvement of top management in the scheme.
    • But it is of no use talking now; the servants will soon be stirring, and it would be rather awkward to be found here." "For you, perhaps, madam," sneered Sir George. "Rather for yourself," replied she, with the greatest...
    • I shall cancel, without further provocation, the next lecture engagement that is implicated with a peep o' day train. - 1879, Robert J[ones] Burdette, Hawk-Eyes, New York, N.Y.: G. W. Carleton & Co., Publishers, page...
  2. To imply, to have as a necessary consequence or accompaniment.
    • What did Nixon's visit to China implicate for Russia?
  3. To imply without entailing; to have as an implicature.
  4. To fold or twist together, intertwine, interlace, entangle, entwine.

    Synonyms: ensnarl involve ravel enmesh ensnare entangle foul implicate imply mat snarl tangle

Origin

First attested in the 15th century, in Middle English; inherited from Middle English implicaten (poorly attested), from implicat(e) (“wrapped, entwined; involved, connected (with)”, possibly also used as the past participle of implicaten) + -en (verb-forming suffix), borrowed from Latin implicātus, perfect passive participle of implicō (“to entangle, involve”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from plicō (“to fold”). Doublet of imply and employ.

Forms

implicates implicating implicated

Derived

disimplicate implicatory nonimplicated unimplicate unimplicated