c. 1600, "state of being complex;" 1610s, "an intricate situation or condition," from intricate (adj.) + -cy. Related: Intricacies.
Entries linking to intricacy
intricate adj.
early 15c., from Latin intricatus "entangled," past participle of intricare "to entangle, perplex, embarrass," from in- "in" (from PIE root *en "in") + tricae (plural) "perplexities, hindrances, toys, tricks," a word of uncertain origin (compare extricate). Related: Intricately; intricateness.
-cy
abstract noun suffix of quality or rank, from Latin -cia, -tia, from Greek -kia, -tia, from abstract ending -ia (see -ia) + stem ending -c- or -t-. The native correspondents are -ship, -hood.