complice
(ˈkɒmplɪs)
Also 5 compliss, 5–7 -plyse, 6 -plise, -please.
[a. F. complice (14th c. in Littré), ad. L. complex, complicem closely connected, confederate, participant, f. com- together + stem plic- fold: cf. simplex, duplex, etc.]
† 1. gen. One associated in any affair with another, the latter being regarded as the principal; an associate, confederate, comrade. Obs. (having passed into the special sense 2, by which also most of the later instances of this are coloured.)
| 1475 Bk. Noblesse 39 Be it the duke of Breteyne, the duke of Orliens, or any suche other his complisses. 1513 Douglas æneis ix. xi. 51 Bot thai wyth all thar complicis in fyght War dung abak. 1591 Horsey Trav. (Hakl. Soc.) 190 The centinell brought me to the statholder..he and his complices strickly examined and searched me. 1597 Shakes. 2 Hen. IV, i. i. 163. 1625 W. Pemble Justification (1629) 42 Bellarmine and his complices dispute eagerly against justification by faith alone. 1656 Trapp Comm. Matt vi. 24 such enemies as Chedorlaomer and his complices. 1730–6 Bailey (folio), Complice, A partner or associate in an action. a 1734 North Exam. i. ii. §19. 40. |
2. spec. An associate in crime, a confederate with the principal offender. (From the frequent early use of the word in connexion with crime, this sense became predominant by 1600, and was the only one recognised by Johnson in 1755.) arch., the current word being accomplice.
| [1471 Arriv. Edw. IV, i. (Camden), By the traitorous means of his great rebel, Richard, Earl of Warwick, and his complices. 1533–4 Act 25 Hen. VIII, c. 12 Conspiracies..of the said Elizabeth, and other her complices.] 1581 Marbeck Bk. of Notes 428 Iudas [of Galilee] was hanged together with his complises. 1594 1st Pt. Contention (1843) 68 To quell these Traitors and their compleases. 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. 43 The complices sould not be punissed before the principall malefactour. 1613 R. C. Table Alph. (ed. 3), Complices, fellowes in wicked matters. 1743 Tindal Rapin's Hist. Eng. II. xvii. 96 He was accused of being complice in the murder. 1813 Scott Rokeby i. xx, His pride startled at the tone In which his complice..Asserted guilt's equality. 1876 Bancroft Hist. U.S. V. iii. 358 The French cabinet was unwilling to appear openly as the complice of the insurgents. |
† b. Said of things. Obs.
| 1543 Necess. Doctr. Chr. Man in Strype Eccl. Mem. I. App. ix. 381 That all such abuses as heretofore have been complices concerning this matter be clearly put away. |