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 colored.)
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. Shaks., 2 Hen. IV., I. i. 162.
| Mor. The liues of all your louing Complices | |
| Leane-on your health, the which if you giue-o’re | |
| To stormy Passion, must perforce decay. |
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 connection 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), 63. 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.
