Other forms: complexities
Complexity is how many connected parts something has. The complexity of the system, added complexity, reduce complexity.
It is about connection rather than difficulty: a complex system has many parts that affect each other, which is why complex and complicated are not the same — a complicated thing is merely hard, and a complex one behaves in ways you cannot predict from the parts. In computing, complexity measures how the work grows with the input. Note complex; and that the Latin means woven together.
1nouncomplexityHow many connected parts something has.
“The complexity of the tax system means most people need an accountant.”
complexity is a quality of interconnection.
Complex plus -ity, from Latin complexus, woven together — com plus plectere, to plait. Perplex and plait come from the same weaving.
Proto-Indo-European
*pleḱ-
French
complexe
English
complex
English, today
complexity
Built from
From complex + ity. Partially displaced native English manifoldness. complex Borrowed from French complexe. From French complexe, from Latin complexus, past participle of complector (“to entwine, encircle, compass, infold”), from com- (“together”) and plectō (“to weave, braid”). May be analyzed as com- + -plex. See complect. a doublet of complexus.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA