Caught or twisted in a complicated way; or involved in a confusing or difficult situation.
From 'entangle,' combining 'en-' (cause to be) and 'tangle' (to twist together). 'Tangle' likely comes from Old Norse or Scandinavian roots. The word emerged in English by the 16th century.
The word works for both physical tangles (like headphones in a pocket) and emotional ones (like being entangled in a complicated relationship)—showing how our brains use the same metaphor for different kinds of mess!
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