摘要：“Intricacy”源自拉丁语“intricare”，意为“使纠缠”或“使复杂”，由“in-”（向内）和“tricae”（小障碍、琐事）组成。“Tricae”本身可能与“trich-”（欺骗、复杂）相关，暗示一种难以解开的缠绕状态。这个词在16世纪进入英语，
intricacy
英 ['ɪntrɪkəsi] 美 ['ɪntrɪkəsi]
n.纷乱；错综复杂 (复)intricacies：错综复杂的事物.
“Intricacy”源自拉丁语“intricare”，意为“使纠缠”或“使复杂”，由“in-”（向内）和“tricae”（小障碍、琐事）组成。“Tricae”本身可能与“trich-”（欺骗、复杂）相关，暗示一种难以解开的缠绕状态。这个词在16世纪进入英语，衍生出“intricate”（复杂的）和“intricacy”（复杂性）。最初，“intricacy”多用于描述物理上的复杂结构（如织物或工艺品），后来扩展到抽象领域，如思想、情节或社会关系，强调其精妙与深奥。
◉外刊例句
① 《The New York Times》 (2023年9月14日)
The intricacy of the quantum computer’s design left even experts marveling at its potential.
量子计算机设计的复杂性令专家们对其潜力惊叹不已。
② 《The Economist》 (2024年10月27日)
Navigating the intricacy of global trade agreements requires both patience and expertise.
应对全球贸易协定的复杂性需要耐心和专业知识。
◉经典名著
① 《远大前程》（Great Expectations）——查尔斯·狄更斯 (1861年)
The intricacy of Miss Havisham’s motives baffled Pip, as her actions seemed both cruel and tender.
郝薇香小姐动机的复杂性让皮普困惑，她的行动似乎既残酷又温柔。
② 《米德尔马契》（Middlemarch）——乔治·艾略特 (1872年)
She admired the intricacy of the tapestry, each thread woven with deliberate care.
她赞叹那幅挂毯的精妙，每一根线都带着刻意的用心编织而成。
◉Usage Examples
(1) There is no divine mind or plan behind the order and intricacy of the natural world.
(1) 在这么有秩序而精细复杂的自然界的背后,并没有神的智慧或计划。
◉Usage Notes
The noun intricacy means a quality of being complex or elaborately detailed. You could compliment the intricacy of your friend's complicated hairdo.
A delicate piece of jewelry, twisted with decorative strands of silver, can be admired for its intricacy, and an overly complex piece of legislation might be criticized for its intricacy. You could also talk about the intricacy of the universe, or the intricacy of the human body. Intricacy comes from the Latin root word intricatus, which means "entangled."
1. [N-UNCOUNT 不可数名词]复杂精细；错综复杂 Intricacy is the state of being made up of many small parts or details. [usu N of n]
The price depends on the intricacy of the work.
价格取决于做工的复杂精细度。
2. [N-PLURAL 复数名词]错综复杂的细节；纷繁复杂之处 The intricacies of something are its complicated details. [usu N of n]
Rose explained the intricacies of the job.
罗斯解释了这项工作的繁琐复杂之处。
来源：学无用的英语