From Middle English sophisticaten (“to mix (something) with a foreign or inferior substance, adulterate”), from Medieval Latin sophisticātus, the perfect passive participle of sophisticāre (“to disguise; to tamper with; to trick using words”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix) for more). Sophisticāre is derived from Latin sophisticus (“pertaining to the ancient Sophists, sophistic; pertaining to sophistry, sophistic, sophistical”) (from Ancient Greek σοφιστικός (sophistikós), from σοφιστής (sophistḗs, “master of a craft; prudent or wise person; philosopher; teacher, tutor; (derogatory) one who profits from false wisdom, cheat, swindler”), from σοφός (sophós, “able, skilful; clever, intelligent, prudent, wise; cunning”), further etymology unknown) + -ō (first conjugation verb-forming suffix). Cognates * French sophistiquer * Italian sofisticare * Spanish sofisticar
To make (something) less innocent or natural; to artificialize.
The party to which Mrs. Berlinton was the loadſtone, was far more attractive to the diſciples of nature, though leſs ſedulouſly ſought by thoſe whom the manners and maxims of the common world had ſophiſticated.1796, [Frances Burney], “The Rooms”, in Camilla: Or, A Picture of Youth. […], volume III, London: […] T[homas] Payne, […]; and T[homas] Cadell Jun. and W[illiam] Davies (successors to Mr. [Thomas] Cadell) […], →OCLC, book VI, pages 269–270:
[T]hey were not the spoiled children of affectation and refinement, but a bold, vigorous, independent race of thinkers, with prodigious strength and energy, with none but natural grace, and heartfelt unobtrusive delicacy. They were not at all sophisticated.1820, William Hazlitt, “Lecture I. Introductory.”, in Lectures Chiefly on the Dramatic Literature of the Age of Elizabeth. […], London: Stodart and Steuart, […]; Edinburgh: Bell and Bradfute, →OCLC, page 2:
2 more examples
She was no scion of the English houses of Brown, Jones, or Robinson, born and bred in a London back slum, and christened plain Sarah or Mary, to be sophisticated later into Celestine or Mariette.[1879], [Mary Elizabeth Braddon], “La Chicot”, in The Cloven Foot […], volume I, London: John and Robert Maxwell […], →OCLC, page 71:
Psychologists have developed quasi-causal theories to explain the directedness of behaviour, to answer the question ‘Why are certain sorts of reasons operative?’ and these theories may well have insinuated themselves into ordinary language as part of the meaning of “motive”. It might well be, therefore, that people who are slightly sophisticated by psychological theories assume some such necessary connexion [between giving the motive for an action and making any assertions of a causal kind about a man’s emotional state].1960, R[ichard] S[tanley] Peters, “Motives and Motivation”, in R. F. Holland, editor, The Concept of Motivation (Studies in Philosophical Psychology), 2nd edition, London: Routledge & Kegan Paul; New York, N.Y.: Humanities Press, published 1965, →OCLC, page 38:
2
To make (something) more sophisticated (“complex, developed, or refined”); to develop, to refine.
3
Also To make (oneself or someone) more sophisticated (“experienced in the ways of the world, that is, cosmopolitan or worldly-wise”); to cosmopolitanize.
4
Also, Figuratively To alter and make impure (something) by mixing it with some foreign or inferior substance, especially with an intention to deceive; to adulterate; (generally) to corrupt or deceive (someone, their thinking, etc.).
How be it, it were harde to construe this lecture; Sophisticatid craftely is many a confecture; […]1523, John Skelton, “A Ryght Delectable Tratyse vpon a Goodly Garlande or Chapelet of Laurell, […]”, in Alexander Dyce, editor, The Poetical Works of John Skelton: […], volume I, London: Thomas Rodd, […], published 1843, →OCLC, page 366, lines 109–110:
For there are diuers motiues, drawing men to fauour mightily thoſe opinions wherein their perſwaſions are but weakely ſetled: and if the paſſions of the minde be ſtrong, they eaſily ſophiſticate the vnderſtanding, they make it apt to beeleeue vpon very ſclender warrant and to imagine infallible truth where ſcarce any probable ſhew appeareth.[1594], Richard Hooker, “To the Most Reverend Father in God My Very Good Lord, the Lord Archbishop of Canterburie His Grace [John Whitgift], Primate and Metropolitane of All England”, in J[ohn] S[penser], editor, Of the Lawes of Ecclesiastical Politie, […], 3rd edition, London: […] Will[iam] Stansby [for Matthew Lownes], published 1611, →OCLC, book IV, page [174]:
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This is my friend, Abel, an honeſt fellow, He let me haue good Tobacco, and he do's not Sophiſticate it, with Sack-lees, or Oyle, […]1610 (first performance), Ben[jamin] Jonson, The Alchemist, London: […] Thomas Snodham, for Walter Burre, and are to be sold by Iohn Stepneth, […], published 1612, →OCLC, Act I, scene iii:
It is the manner of the vvorld, and ſo it is of the Prince of the vvorld, to ſophiſticate ever the beſt things vvith hypocriſie, vvith ſuperſtition, vvith a thouſand deviſes more.1621 February 23 (date delivered; Gregorian calendar), Lancelot Andrewes, “[Sermons Preached vpon Ash-Wednesday.] A Sermon Preached before King James at Whitehall on the XIIII. of February, A.D. MDCXXI. being Ash-Wednesday.”, in XCVI. Sermons […], London: […] George Miller, for Richard Badger, published 1629, →OCLC, page 215:
to mingle or sophisticate any Wine here1639, James Howell, “To my Lord Clifford, from Edenburgh”, in Epistolæ Ho-Elianæ. Familiar Letters Domestic and Forren. […], 3rd edition, volume (please specify the page), London: […] Humphrey Mos[e]ley, […], published 1655, →OCLC:
Yet the rich Cullies may their boaſting ſpare; They purchaſe but ſophiſticated VVare.1678, [John] Dryden, “Epilogue”, in Nat[haniel] Lee, Mithridates King of Pontus, a Tragedy: […], London: […] R[obert] E[veringham] for James Magnes and Rich[ard] Bentley, […], →OCLC:
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To change the meaning of (something) in a deceptive or misleading way.
The heavy hand of the high Thunderer Shall light on thee; and thou I doubt ſhalt be His Furies object, and ſhalt teſtifie By thine infamous lifes accurſed ſtate, VVhat now thy ſhame-leſs lips ſophiſticate.1608, [Guillaume de Salluste] Du Bartas, “[Du Bartas His Second Weeke, […]. Noah. […].] The Arke. The I. Part of the II. Day of the II. Week.”, in Josuah Sylvester, transl., Du Bartas His Deuine Weekes and Workes […], 3rd edition, London: […] Humfrey Lownes [and are to be sold by Arthur Iohnson […]], published 1611, →OCLC, page 302:
His character and doctrines have received still greater injury from those who pretend to be his special disciples, and who have disfigured and sophisticated his actions and precepts from views of personal interest, so as to induce the unthinking part of mankind to throw off the whole system in disgust, and to pass sentence, as an impostor on the most innocent, the most benevolent, the most eloquent and sublime character that has ever been exhibited to man.1803 April 9, Thomas Jefferson, “John Adams to Thomas Jefferson. Quincy, July 16, 1813 [quoting Jefferson’s letter to Dr. Joseph Priestley]”, in The Writings of Thomas Jefferson; […], volume VI, New York, N.Y.: Riker, Thorne & Co.; Washington, D.C.: Taylor & Maury, published 1854, →OCLC, page 169:
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Archaic To apply an artificial technique to (something).
[T]hey ſit in ſome ſun-ſhining place in a chamber or ſome other ſecret roome, where hauing a looking-glaſſe before them they ſophiſticate and dye their haire with the foreſaid drugs, […]1611, Thomas Coryate [i.e., Thomas Coryat], “My Obseruations of the Most Glorious, Peerelesse, and Mayden Citie of Venice: […]”, in Coryats Crudities Hastily Gobled Vp in Five Moneths Trauells […], London: […] W[illiam] S[tansby for the author], →OCLC, page [263], lines 1–5:
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To practise sophistry (“the (deliberate) making of arguments that seem plausible but are fallacious or misleading”).
The benevolence of her heart taught her, in this inſtance, to ſophiſticate.1791, [Ann Radcliffe], chapter X, in The Romance of the Forest: […], volume II, London: […] T[homas] Hookham and J. Carpenter, […], →OCLC, page 103:
Yet [Joseph] Butler professes to stick to plain facts, not to sophisticate, not to refine.1876 March, Matthew Arnold, “Bishop Butler and the Zeit-Geist. II.”, in The Contemporary Review, volume XXVII, London: Strahan & Co. […], →ISSN, →OCLC, page 574:
Etymology From Middle English sophisticat, sophisticate (“adulterated; not genuine, counterfeit”), an adjective use of the past participle of sophisticaten (verb) See Etymology 1 and -ate (adjective-forming suffix) for more.
› Synonym of sophisticated (adjective).
1
Of a person: experienced in the ways of the world; cosmopolitan, worldly-wise.
2
Of art or other things: appealing to the tastes of an intellectual or sophisticated (sense 1.1) person; cerebral; also, cultured, elegant, refined.
3
Obsolete Mixed with a foreign or inferior substance; not genuine or pure; adulterated, impure.
So truth, while only one ſupply'd the ſtate, Grew ſcarce, and dear, and yet ſophiſticate.c. 1663, John Dryden, “Epistle the Second. To My Honored Friend Dr. [Walter] Charleton, on His Learned and Useful Works; but More Particularly His Treatise of Stone-henge, by Him Restor’d to the True Founder.”, in The Miscellaneous Works of John Dryden, […], volume II, London: […] J[acob] and R[ichard] Tonson, […], published 1760, →OCLC, page 154:
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Obsolete Of a thing: having its meaning changed in a deceptive or misleading way.
sophisticate
noun
Etymology From a substantivation of the above adjective or back-formation of the verb, either on the basis of -ate (noun-forming suffix).
1
A person who is sophisticated (“experienced in the ways of the world, that is, cosmopolitan or worldly-wise”), or who has sophisticated tastes.
[…] the soporific details of Porter's socially correct marriage of convenience to wealthy and somewhat enigmatic Linda, "a professional beauty." They evidently shared a taste for high social status and the elegant luxuries, high life and freedoms afforded by wealth. Linda and Cole are portrayed as the ultimate sophisticates but the viewer is never told the cause for their separation or why they married.1991 December 1, Rudy Grillo, “Who's The Top?”, in Gay Community News, volume 19, number 20, page 8:
Patrick Star: Because classy sophisticates like us should not stain our lips with cursing. SpongeBob SquarePants: Yea verily!2001 September 21, Walt Dohrn, Paul Tibbitt, Merriwether Williams, “Sailor Mouth”, in SpongeBob SquarePants, season 2, episode 18a: