implicate meaning: definition, etymology and quotations

implicate

verb

/ˈɪmplɪkeɪt/

Etymology 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.

Usually, With in 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 composure; "you might be implicated in the charge of murder."1837, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], “The Assignation”, in Ethel Churchill: Or, The Two Brides. […], volume III, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, page 256:

2 more examples

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 137:
Mostly, the microbiome is beneficial. It helps with digestion and enables people to extract a lot more calories from their food than would otherwise be possible. Research over the past few years, however, has implicated it in diseases from atherosclerosis to asthma to autism.2013 June 29, “A punch in the gut”, in The Economist, volume 407, number 8842, London: The Economist Group, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 27 Jul 2023, pages 72–73:

Nonstandard To imply, to have as a necessary consequence or accompaniment.

What did Nixon's visit to China implicate for Russia?

Human sciences, Linguistics, Pragmatics, Sciences To imply without entailing; to have as an implicature.

Archaic To fold or twist together, intertwine, interlace, entangle, entwine.

Derived terms: disimplicate, implicatory, nonimplicated, unimplicate, unimplicated

implicate

noun

/ˈɪmplɪkət/

Etymology 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.

Human sciences, Philosophy, Sciences The thing implied.

implicate

adj

Also, Figuratively, Rare Intertwined, enfolded, twisted together; wrapped up (with), entangled, involved (in).

Also, Especially, Figuratively, Rare, In quantum theory used in implicate order

Obsolete Involved, intricate.

Derived terms: implicate order
Related terms: implication, implicative, implicature, implicit, implicitness, imply

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