labyrinthialadj.
/ˌlab(ə)ˈrɪnθɪəl/, U.S. /ˌlæb(ə)ˈrɪnθiəl/ Resembling or of the nature of a labyrinth; intricate, convoluted; labyrinthine. Also: of or relating to a labyrinth (in various senses).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > secrecy, concealment > a profound secret, mystery > puzzle, enigma, riddle > [adjective] > intricate, complex
knottya1225
curiousc1400
labyrinthialc1540
labyrinthian1588
labyrinthicala1631
labyrinthic1632
labyrinthine1775
c1540 Image Ipocrysy ii, in J. Skelton Poet. Wks. (1843) II. 426 By lawes absynthyall And labirynthyall.
1638 E. Raban Glorie of Man ii. 7 The smallest part whereof, to collect together, and set downe in Print, would be a Labyrinthiall, and Herculean Travell.
a1711 T. Ken Hymnarium 34 in Wks. (1721) II. He o'er the Universe presides, And Labyrinthial Casualties guides.
1851 Morning Chron. 31 May 4/6 Let there be no labyrinthial preamble.
1878 Sedalia (Missouri) Daily Democrat 15 Feb. 1/3 It comprised ten acres laid off in labyrinthial walks.
1915 Connersville (Indiana) Evening News 9 Jan. 1/7 Troops were being moved up through the labyrinthial system of trenches.
1970 Acta Oto-laryngol. Suppl. No. 264. 7/2 Transverse fractures through the petrous part will, as a rule, involve the labyrinth, and thus result in loss of the labyrinthial function.
1998 N.Y. Times 15 May e8/5 I was also surprised by his mention in his program note of extreme difficulty and ‘labyrinthial textures’, for his piece seemed to me remarkably easy to make out.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2017; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
<
adj.c1540