January 26, 2011

Word of the Day: Imbroglio

Imbroglio \im-BROHL-yoh\ noun
1. A complicated and embarrassing state of things.
2. A confused or complicated disagreement for misunderstanding.
3. An intricate, complicated plot, as of a drama or work of fiction.
4. A confused mass; a tangle.

Origin: Imbroglio derives from Italian, from Old Italian imbrogliare, "to tangle, to confuse," from in-, "in" + brogliare, "to mix, to stir."  It is related to embroil, "to entangle in conflict or argument."

No comments: