complot

1 of 2

noun

com·​plot ˈkäm-ˌplät How to pronounce complot (audio)
archaic
: plot, conspiracy

complot

2 of 2

verb

com·​plot kəm-ˈplät How to pronounce complot (audio)
käm-
complotted; complotting; complots
archaic
: plot

Word History

Etymology

Noun

borrowed from Middle French, "accord, arrangement, plot," going back to Old French, "crowd, press, meeting, company," of obscure origin

Note: Compare also medieval Picard conploit "understanding among a group of people, agreement," complote "crowd, press of combatants in a battle." Französisches etymologisches Wörterbuch points to a substitution of pelote "ball (as of yarn, ribbon, etc.)" for complote in a manuscript of the twelfth century Roman d'Alixandre and suggests that behind complote is a hypothetical *compeloter "to form into a ball"—however, evidence for such a verb is lacking.

Verb

borrowed from Middle French comploter, derivative of complot "accord, arrangement, plot" — more at complot entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

1577, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1579, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of complot was in 1577

Dictionary Entries Near complot

compline

complot

complt

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Complot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/complot. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.

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