COMPLICITOUS Meaning and
Definition
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The term "complicitous" is an adjective that refers to one's involvement in or knowledge of a wrongdoing, typically in collaboration with others. It originates from the word "complicit," which signifies being involved in a questionable or unethical act. When someone is described as complicitous, it implies their active participation or association with the offense, often alongside other individuals.
Being complicitous suggests that an individual willingly contributes, assists, or supports an illicit action, thereby sharing responsibility and potentially benefiting from its outcomes. This complicity might include having knowledge of the wrongdoing but choosing not to take any action to prevent or expose it. It commonly implies joining forces or colluding with others in the pursuit of a shared objective, usually of dubious ethical nature.
However, it is important to note that "complicitous" does not inherently imply guilt or moral judgment. While it commonly connotes wrongdoing, it can also refer to someone who is merely aware of an illegal or suspicious act without actively participating. In some cases, complicity might emerge due to coercion, fear, or blackmail, where an individual may be implicitly forced into obedience.
To summarize, "complicitous" describes an individual's involvement or knowledge of an unlawful or unethical activity, signifying their cooperation or support in conjunction with others. It indicates an association with wrongdoing, though the extent of one's participation or moral culpability can vary.
Common Misspellings for COMPLICITOUS
- xomplicitous
- vomplicitous
- fomplicitous
- domplicitous
- cimplicitous
- ckmplicitous
- clmplicitous
- cpmplicitous
- c0mplicitous
- c9mplicitous
- conplicitous
- cokplicitous
- cojplicitous
- comolicitous
- comllicitous
- com-licitous
- com0licitous
- compkicitous
- comppicitous
- compoicitous
Etymology of COMPLICITOUS
The word "complicitous" is derived from the root word "complicit", which itself comes from the Latin "complicitus". The Latin term is the past participle of the verb "complicare", meaning "to fold together" or "to unite". The prefix "com-" in Latin denotes "with", while the suffix "-ous" in English signifies "full of" or "characterized by". Therefore, "complicitous" describes a state of being or the quality of being involved or participating in a wrongful or illegal act in conjunction with others.
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