Collocating the adjective "complicate".

Which nouns would you say collocate with "complicate" (the adjective)?

e.g.

adj. + noun

complicate structure

Do you mean complicated? Because that could be used with many things... "That question is complicated" for example.

Do you mean complicated?

No, I mean "complicate", the adjective.

Well, that adjective is rare.

<Well, that adjective is rare. >

And? Does that mean we can't talk aboutvit?

It is not rare. It is in use

Yes, it is rare.

<Yes, it is rare.>

In which field?

"Complicate" (adj.) with the sense "interwoven", "compound" or "complex" is archaic, according to OED. You might encounter it in a C17 or C18 text, or in the works of a deliberately archaic stylist such as Pater.

"Complicate" (adj.) in the botanical or entomological sense, on the other hand, where it relates to certain "folded" aspects of an organ, would tend to occur only in a formal taxonomic description, or in e.g. a dichotomous key.

All the best,

MrP

<<In which field?>>

Almost all of them.

I think Mr P forget to answer the thread question:

<<Which nouns would you say collocate with "complicate" (the adjective)? ><

Not marked as archaic here.

ADJECTIVE: (-kt)1. Complex, intricate, and involved. 2. Biology Folded longitudinally one or several times, as certain leaves or the wings of some insects.

http://www.bartleby.com/61/11/C0531100.html


I guess we in the USA use it and the Brits don't.

One would think that "Folded longitudinally one or several times, as certain leaves or the wings of some insects." implies "Complex, intricate, and involved".

Not really. They couldn't be further apart. A lot of good it will do a biologist if they're trying to identify an insect and their text book just says "their wings are complex" haha. The bio definition is a description of objective reality, the other is objective and less specific.

*the other is SUBJECTIVE and less specific...