v. [ad. L. complect-i, in late L. complect-ĕre, to embrace, encircle, etc., f. com- + plectĕre to plait, twine. Sense 2 follows the analytical sense of the L.]
† 1. trans. To embrace. lit. and fig. Obs.
1523. Ld. Berners, Froiss., Pref. 1. As the celestyall bodyes aboue complecte all and at euery tyme the vniuersall worlde. Ibid., 2. Hystorie … representyng the actes, gestes, and dedes done, complecteth all profyte.
1575. R. B., Appius & Virg., in Hazl., Dodsley, IV. 145. Then, tender arms, complect the neck.
1657. Tomlinson, Renou’s Disp., 278. Mace is a thin membrane … which covers and complects the nutmeg.
2. To weave or connect together; to interweave.
1578. Banister, Hist. Man, I. 35. The Ligament … complectyng together the legge and Fibula.
1830. Carlyle, History, Misc. (1857), II. 172. Each atom is ‘chained’ and complected with all.
1881. Mod. Rev., Jan., 160. His art aims were complected with his personal objects.
Hence Complected ppl. a.1, interwoven, complicated. (Affected by Carlyle.)
1828. Carlyle, Werner, Misc. (1888), I. 118. A misshapen, lumbering, complected coil. Ibid. (1831), Sart. Res., I. viii. Infinitely complected tissues of Meditation. Ibid., II. iii. The infinitely-complected departments of social business.
