Is there a word meaning ...

[Dogtrousers]

Is there a word meaning "the act of taking a simple subject and overcomplicating it with rules, ceremonies and a self-referential body of knowledge".

Let's say the word was to X-ify. A possible usage would be:
"Should I put the milk in before or after the tea?"
"Stop X-ifying it. It's only a cup of tea!"

There should be. I suspect that there probably is.

 

[winjim]

Ucify

 

[EltonFrog]

Is there a word meaning "the act of taking a simple subject and overcomplicating it with rules, ceremonies and a self-referential body of knowledge".

Let's say the word was to X-ify. A possible usage would be:
"Should I put the milk in before or after the tea?"
"Stop X-ifying it. It's only a cup of tea!"

There should be. I suspect that there probably is.

Well, if there isn't it should be X-ify. It works for me.

 

[Supersuperleeds]

Nobberifiry

 

[Sharky]

Dunno, but my Mum, could "cut a short story long".

 

[Globalti]

Obfuscate is a pretty good word, which means almost that. Politicians do it a lot.

But to dress something up is to embellish, ornament or elaborate it, surely?

 

[Chromatic]

Scap

 

[Dogtrousers]

Examples of what I'm thinking of:
Anything invented by "connoisseurs" to make their specialist interest seem more exclusive.
The Velominati rules (if taken at face value)
Rules about milk first or tea first.

Obfuscate is good ... but it's not quite there.

 

[Globalti]

Well then you're talking about esoteric or recondite predilections. How does that sound?

 

[srw]

Is there a word meaning "the act of taking a simple subject and overcomplicating it with rules, ceremonies and a self-referential body of knowledge".

Let's say the word was to X-ify. A possible usage would be:
"Should I put the milk in before or after the tea?"
"Stop X-ifying it. It's only a cup of tea!"

There should be. I suspect that there probably is.

I'm sorry, I haven't a clue. Of the top of my head, how about:

Sportify
Olympicate
Obfuscplexify
Regulafacturate
Morningtonicrescentulate

 

[youngoldbloke]

Isn't it 'over-egging'

 

[Shut Up Legs]

Is there a word meaning "the act of taking a simple subject and overcomplicating it with rules, ceremonies and a self-referential body of knowledge".

Let's say the word was to X-ify. A possible usage would be:
"Should I put the milk in before or after the tea?"
"Stop X-ifying it. It's only a cup of tea!"

There should be. I suspect that there probably is.

Unobtainify.

 

[ayceejay]

Is it bullshit Bob?

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Obfuscatory dissemblage

 

[cosmicbike]

Bunch of bollox.

Sorry that's 3 words.

Think @ayceejay got it right