To entangle things= To complicate things?

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WesternAmerican

#427045 Thu, 04 Oct 07 05:44 PM

Are the two verbs synonym?
Thanks.

WesternAmerican

Joined on Wed, Jun 6 2007

Israel

Full Member (393)

I will REALLY appreciate any corrections to my posts, whether it be grammar, glossary, or just something that could elevate my style. Thank you.

Verbs, Synonyms

Yoong Liat

#427086 Thu, 04 Oct 07 07:42 PM

WesternAmerican wrote:
Are the two verbs synonym?
Thanks.

They are synonyms based on the following definition.

complicate something: to make something more complicated or confusing

The story entangles the facts with value judgments.

Yoong Liat

Joined on Mon, Sep 4 2006

Singapore

Veteran Member (5,610)

Yoong Liat

Verbs, Synonyms, Images

Grammar Geek

#427110 Thu, 04 Oct 07 08:15 PM

I have never seen entangle used as a verb.

Grammar Geek

Joined on Tue, Jan 10 2006

Pennsylvania, USA

Veteran Member (14,807)

Barbara, who answers in American English.

Verbs

EnglishRaven

#427112 Thu, 04 Oct 07 08:15 PM

Hi WesternAmerican,

Yes, I would call them synonyms as they express the same broad concept (of something getting wrapped up or made to be more difficult than before). But the usage is different (collocation) depending on the situation and other words or ideas you want to use them with.

When I read your "to entangle things" I get a sense of things getting tied together physically or in a messy way.

When I read "complicate things" I get a sense of an intangible (something you can't touch) idea that has become more difficult and or confusing than before.

So I think you could get your dirty clothes all entangled in the laundry while you are trying to load them into the washer, but you could complicate things for yourself if you then decided to start sorting the clothes into whites and darks while they are all entangled there in the washer.

One (entangle) is more common for physical objects, while the other (complicate) refers to problems or situations (things we usually can't touch).

Does that make sense? I hope so!

Best,

Jason

EnglishRaven

Joined on Wed, Oct 3 2007

Korea & Australia

New Member (22)

Synonyms

Yoong Liat

#427118 Thu, 04 Oct 07 08:23 PM

Grammar Geek wrote:
I have never seen entangle used as a verb.

The following is extracted from a dictionary.

transitive verb

Definition:

1. tangle something up: to make something become twisted up in a mass of strands, e.g. netting or hair ( usually passive )

2. put somebody in difficult situation: to involve somebody or something in a problem that will be difficult to escape from ( usually passive )

were entangled in corporate politics

3. complicate something: to make something more complicated or confusing

The story entangles the facts with value judgments.

Yoong Liat

Grammar, Verbs, Images

Grammar Geek

#427159 Thu, 04 Oct 07 10:02 PM

I should have rephrased. I have never encountered "entangle" as an active, transitive verb.

I have seen "it has become entangled" (often in the physical sense - I like the washing machine example).

As we have said before, simply because it's in the dictionary, it doesn't mean it's in common use. In the U.S., I have simply never seen it used as defined in #3.

Grammar Geek

Verbs

Marius Hancu

#427195 Thu, 04 Oct 07 11:49 PM

Grammar Geek wrote:

As we have said before, simply because it's in the dictionary, it doesn't mean it's in common use. In the U.S., I have simply never seen it used as defined in #3.

Me either.

But here's another dictionary definition:
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en·tangle

Function:transitive verb

1 a : to twist or interweave so as to make separation difficult : make tangled and intricate : SNARL <entangle yarn> b : to make complicated or difficult of comprehension : CONFUSE <his explanation did not so much clarify as entangle the question>

2 a : to involve so as to impede physical movement or make extrication difficult : ENMESH, ENSNARL <entangle a bird in the coils of a net> <entangled themselves in a maze of woods and marshes> <entangled his feet in the train of her dress> b : to involve in a perplexing or troublesome situation from which escape is difficult : ENTRAP <entangling the country in a vicious circle of wars> <entangled himself in a ruinous litigation> <entangled his victims in a real-estate scheme that cost them dearly> <had entangled the king in a false marriage with her -- Edith Sitwell> c : to confuse mentally : PERPLEX, BEWILDER <entangled his listeners in a maze of sophistries> d archaic : ENCUMBER <died ... leaving an entangled estate, due to loans and back rentals -- R.J.Porcell>

http://unabridged.merriam-webster.com
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Marius Hancu

Joined on Wed, Apr 26 2006

Montreal, Canada

Veteran Member (11,646)

Grammar, Verbs, Marriage

Yankee

#427297 Fri, 05 Oct 07 07:39 AM

To continue with the "dueling dictionaries" theme, Stick out tongue [:P]

this is what Oxford has to say about the usual usage:

entangle

• verb (usu. be entangled in/with) 1 cause to become tangled. 2 involve in complicated circumstances

I agree that "become entangled" is also a common usage.

Yankee

Joined on Sat, Apr 15 2006

Connecticut, USA

Senior Member (4,013)

Amy "You can't depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus." - Mark Twain

Verbs

Grammar Geek

#427456 Fri, 05 Oct 07 03:39 PM

Amy, have you even seen "entangle" as an active, transitive verb? As in: You have entangled the situation by involving the FBI and Rose's ex-lover's new wife. As a direct substitution for the word "complicated"?

Grammar Geek

Verbs

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