sophisticate

Etymology 1

The verb is derived from Middle English sophisticaten (“to mix (something) with a foreign or inferior substance, adulterate”), from Medieval Latin sophisticātus, the past participle of sophisticāre (“to disguise; to tamper with; to trick using words”) + -ātus (suffix denoting the possession of features or things). 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) + -āre (suffix forming present active infinitives of verbs). The noun is derived from the verb. cognates * French sophistiquer * Italian sofisticare * Spanish sofisticar

verb

1. (transitive)
   1. To make (something) less innocent or natural; to artificialize.
      Psychologists have developed quasi-causal theories to explain the directedness of behaviour, to answer the question ‘Why are certain sorts of reasons operative?’ and these theories may well have insinuated themselves into ordinary language as part of the meaning of “motive”. It might well be, therefore, that people who are slightly sophisticated by psychological theories assume some such necessary connexion [between giving the motive for an action and making any assertions of a causal kind about a man’s emotional state]. 1960, R[ichard] S[tanley] Peters, “Motives and Motivation”, in R. F. Holland, editor, The Concept of Motivation (Studies in Philosophical Psychology), 2nd edition, London: Routledge & Kegan Paul; New York, N.Y.: Humanities Press, published 1965, →OCLC, page 38
   2. To make (something) more sophisticated (“complex, developed, or refined”); to develop, to refine.
   3. (also reflexive) To make (oneself or someone) more sophisticated (“experienced in the ways of the world, that is, cosmopolitan or worldly-wise”); to cosmopolitanize.
   4. (also figurative) 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.).
   5. To change the meaning of (something) in a deceptive or misleading way.
      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. 9 April 1803, Thomas Jefferson, “John Adams to Thomas Jefferson. Quincy, July 16, 1813 [quoting Jefferson’s letter to Dr. Joseph Priestley]”, in The Writings of Thomas Jefferson;[…], volume VI, New York, N.Y.: Riker, Thorne & Co.; Washington, D.C.: Taylor & Maury, published 1854, →OCLC, page 169
   6. (archaic) To apply an artificial technique to (something).
2. (intransitive) To practise sophistry (“the (deliberate) making of arguments that seem plausible but are fallacious or misleading”).
   Yet [Joseph] Butler professes to stick to plain facts, not to sophisticate, not to refine. 1876 March, Matthew Arnold, “Bishop Butler and the Zeit-Geist. II.”, in The Contemporary Review, volume XXVII, London: Strahan & Co.[…], →ISSN, →OCLC, page 574

noun

1. A person who is sophisticated (“experienced in the ways of the world, that is, cosmopolitan or worldly-wise”), or who has sophisticated tastes.
   Patrick Star: Because classy sophisticates like us should not stain our lips with cursing. / SpongeBob SquarePants: Yea verily! 21 September 2001, Walt Dohrn, Paul Tibbitt, Merriwether Williams, “Sailor Mouth”, in SpongeBob SquarePants, season 2, episode 18a

Etymology 2

From Middle English sophisticat, sophisticate (“adulterated; not genuine, counterfeit”), an adjective use of the past participle of sophisticaten (verb): see etymology 1.

adj

1. Synonym of sophisticated (adjective)
   1. Of a person: experienced in the ways of the world; cosmopolitan, worldly-wise.
   2. Of art or other things: appealing to the tastes of an intellectual or sophisticated (sense 1.1) person; cerebral; also, cultured, elegant, refined.
   3. (obsolete) Mixed with a foreign or inferior substance; not genuine or pure; adulterated, impure.
   4. (obsolete) Of a thing: having its meaning changed in a deceptive or misleading way.