Definition of morass

The word "morass" originates from the Old French word "morasse," which means "bog" or "swamp." This Old French word is derived from the Latin words "morsus," meaning "to bite," and "ita," meaning "place." According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the word "morass" was first used in English in the 14th century to describe a wet or soggy area of land, such as a bog or a boggy area. Over time, the meaning of the word "morass" expanded to include a sense of difficulty, complexity, or confusion, as in "to be stuck in a morass of paperwork" or "to be stuck in a morass of complicated issues." Today, the word "morass" is often used metaphorically to describe any situation that is difficult to navigate or get out of, whether it's a physical or a figurative swamp.