sophisticate v.

early 15c., sophisticacioun, "use of sophistry; fallacious argument intended to mislead; disingenuous alteration; an adulterated or adulterating substance," from Medieval Latin sophisticationem (nominative sophisticatio), noun of action from past-participle stem of sophisticare "adulterate, cheat quibble," from Latin sophisticus "of sophists," from Greek sophistikos "of or pertaining to a sophist," from sophistēs "a wise man, master, teacher" (see sophist). Greek sophistēs came to mean "one who gives intellectual instruction for pay," and at Athens, contrasted with "philosopher," it became a term of contempt. 

The meaning "worldly wisdom, refinement, discrimination" in English is attested by 1850. Related: Sophisticative; sophisticator.

c. 1600, "mixed with a foreign substance, impure; no longer simple or natural," past-participle adjective from sophisticate (v.). In reference to persons, and in a positive sense of "worldly-wise, discriminating, cultured," it is attested by 1895. Related: Sophisticatedly.

The earlier adjective in English was sophisticate, attested from c. 1400 as "adulterated, impure, spurious" and by 1590s as "no longer simple," often with implications of "altered dishonestly."