Word: sophisticate Part of Speech: verb Etymology: 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 Pronunciation: /səˈfɪstɪkeɪt/ 1. To make (something) less innocent or natural; to artificialize. Labels: transitive Example: 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. Example: [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. 2. To make (something) more sophisticated (“complex, developed, or refined”); to develop, to refine. Labels: transitive 3. To make (oneself or someone) more sophisticated (“experienced in the ways of the world, that is, cosmopolitan or worldly-wise”); to cosmopolitanize. Labels: also, reflexive, transitive 4. 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.). Labels: also, figuratively, transitive Example: How be it, it were harde to construe this lecture; Sophisticatid craftely is many a confecture; […] Example: 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. 5. To change the meaning of (something) in a deceptive or misleading way. Labels: transitive Example: 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. Example: 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. 6. To apply an artificial technique to (something). Labels: archaic, transitive Example: [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, […] 7. To practise sophistry (“the (deliberate) making of arguments that seem plausible but are fallacious or misleading”). Labels: intransitive Example: The benevolence of her heart taught her, in this inſtance, to ſophiſticate. Example: Yet [Joseph] Butler professes to stick to plain facts, not to sophisticate, not to refine.