Is there a single word for ability to hide complexity or ability to hide details?
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7Can you provide a little more context? In programming, we'd probably say "encapsulate," but if you're talking about a person, that wouldn't work.– Kit Z. Fox ♦Jun 8, 2011 at 11:11
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Facade pattern ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Facade_pattern ), if you're computer guy :)– AnonymousJun 8, 2011 at 11:14
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4Half the time, when seeing the "single-word-requests" tag I wonder if people are yearning for English to be more like German (or Welsh?) and to allow complexityhidingabilty.– RedGrittyBrickJun 8, 2011 at 15:02
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10 Answers
"Abstraction"
the act of considering something as a general quality or characteristic, apart from concrete realities, specific objects, or actual instances.
You might consider facile:
facile |ˈfasəl| adjective 1 (esp. of a theory or argument) appearing neat and comprehensive only by ignoring the true complexities of an issue; superficial. [NOAD]
From http://www.thefreedictionary.com/facade
Facade: An artificial or deceptive front
In certain contexts you might use this:
legerdemain /ˌlejərdəˈmān, ˈlejərdəˌmān, /
noun
skillful use of one's hands when performing conjuring tricks.
answered Jun 8, 2011 at 11:33
glib:
He was glib in his explanations, despite a deep understanding of the issues.
Not exactly a synonym, but how about "vulgarize"? It is more "make comprehensible to non-experts", but that might suit you, depending on the context.
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2I'd use popularize in the meaning to present in generally understandable or interesting form. Vulgarize sounds a bit negative to me.– PhilotoJun 8, 2011 at 11:24
Edited:
How about:
Disguise
that which disguises; something that serves or is intended for concealment of identity, character, or quality;
answered Jun 8, 2011 at 12:06
There's always liar, telling a lie is a great way to cover up underlying complexity.
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While telling a lie may be a way to cover up complexity "liar" is not a word that means "able to hide complexity". Aug 21, 2016 at 9:47
maybe you can try obfuscate
(computing) To alter code while preserving its behavior but conceal its structure and intent. We need to obfuscate these classes before we ship the final release.
answered Jun 8, 2011 at 15:05
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4I think the meaning of "obfuscate" is closer to "ability to hide simplicity"– Lie RyanJun 8, 2011 at 23:09
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1@Lie if you can obfuscate simplicity, I think you can also obfuscate complexity ;) Jun 9, 2011 at 3:05
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1@pageman: I think you're getting it wrong; "obfuscate" by itself, means taking something which is simple and make it more complex or appear more complex than it actually is. Obfuscation may be used to conceal data/information, but there are methods of concealing information that are not obfuscation. You can't
obfuscate simplicitynorobfuscate complexity, they does not make sense.– Lie RyanJun 9, 2011 at 7:40 -
1@pageman: how do I contradict myself? I said '"obfuscate" is closer to "ability to hide simplicity"' and then I said 'obfuscating is a synonym of hiding simplicity'? I think you're totally confused of the meaning of the word.– Lie RyanJun 10, 2011 at 20:08
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1@pageman: I give up trying to convince you. 3 people gave me thumbs up for my original comments, and there are two thumbs up on two my other comments, meanwhile none on any of yours; that means there are at least 3 people who agreed with me, and you know what, you are correct, we are all confused, all four of us are wrong.– Lie RyanJun 12, 2011 at 8:16
make (something) simpler or easier to do or understand.
ODO
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