complice

Forms

complice (plural complices)^[1] Middle French complisse (1327).^[2][3][4]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Late Latin complex (“joined, associated”),^[2][3][4] which Christian authors used as a noun for someone who joins another in a misdeed.^[2][3] The Latin word is related to complector (“to embrace closely”), made of cum (“with”) and plectō (“to plait”),^[3][4] whereas the GLLF and Etymonline connect it with plicō (“to fold”).^[5][6] Bloch and Wartburg note that the moral sense comes before the legal one in French, so the word was probably brought in by the Church.^[7]

Cognate with Italian complice.^[8]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded in 1327 as complisse in the municipal archives of Abbeville, already for a person who shares in a wrongdoing.^[2][3] Bloch and Wartburg and the Petit Robert date it to 1320.^[7][9] The Girart de Roussillon of the early 14th century speaks of the villain's malvais complices “wicked accomplices”.^[8][5]

Semantic evolution

The word came in with its pejorative value, and the neutral sense “companion, friend” (about 1460) has remained rare.^[3] In criminal law it names a person who takes part in an offence committed by another, as distinct from the principal.^[8][3] By extension it is used of anyone who helps something secret or blameworthy to happen, and of things that seem to favour an action (la nuit complice); the adjective also describes a look or smile that shows a secret understanding.^[9][5][2]

English took complice from Old French in the early 15th century; the form accomplice followed in the 1580s.^[6]

Timeline

• 1327 – Complisse in the archives of Abbeville.^[2][3]
• Early 14th century – Complices in the Girart de Roussillon.^[5][8]
• Early 15th century – English complice.^[6]
• 1420 – The derivative complicité appears.^[7][3]
• c. 1460 – Neutral sense “companion, friend”.^[3]

Meanings

Noun

1. An accomplice: a person who takes part in another's crime or offence, as in Le cambrioleur a dénoncé ses complices.^[9][8][1]
2. A partner in any secret or blameworthy action, as in Mon frère a été mon complice dans cette farce.^[9][8]

Adjective

1. Complicit: taking part in an offence: être complice d'un vol.^[9][2]
2. Favouring the accomplishment of something: le silence complice de la nuit.^[9]
3. Showing a secret understanding; close, kindred: un sourire complice.^[9][1]

Word family

• complicité

Related words

• complexe
• Latin complex
• English accomplice

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ a b c d Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
6. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
7. ^ a b c Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
8. ^ a b c d e f Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
9. ^ a b c d e f g Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert