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Webster 1913 Edition

Compliment

Com′pli-ment

,
Noun.
[F.
compliment
. It
complimento
, fr.
comlire
to compliment, finish, suit, fr. L.
complere
to fill up. See
Complete
, and cf.
Complement
.]
An expression, by word or act, of approbation, regard, confidence, civility, or admiration; a flattering speech or attention; a ceremonious greeting;
as, to send one’s
compliments
to a friend
.
Tedious waste of time, to sit and hear
So many hollow
compliments
and lies.
Milton.
Many a
compliment
politely penned.
Cowper.
Syn. – See
Adulation
.

Com′pli-ment

,
Verb.
T.
To praise, flatter, or gratify, by expressions of approbation, respect, or congratulation; to make or pay a compliment to.
Monarchs should their inward soul disguise; . . .
Should
compliment
their foes and shun their friends.
Prior.
Syn. – To praise; flatter; adulate; commend.

Com′pli-ment

,
Verb.
I.
To pass compliments; to use conventional expressions of respect.
I make the interlocutors, upon occasion,
compliment
with one another.
Boyle.

Webster 1828 Edition

Compliment

COMPLIMENT

, n.
1.
An expression of civility, respect or regard; as, to send, or make ones compliments to an absent friend. In this application, the plural is always used.
He observed few compliments in matter of arms.
2.
A present or favor bestowed. My friend made me a compliment of Homers Iliad.

COMPLIMENT

, v.t.
1.
To praise; to flatter by expressions of approbation, esteem or respect.
Monarchs--
Should compliment their foes, and shun their friends.
She compliments Menelaus very handsomely.
2.
To congratulate; as, to compliment a prince on the birth of a son.
3.
To bestow a present; to manifest kindness or regard for, by a present or other favor.
He complimented us with tickets for the exhibition.

COMPLIMENT

,
Verb.
I.
To pass compliments; to use ceremony, or ceremonious language.
I make the interlocutors upon occasion compliment with each other.

Definition 2024

compliment

compliment

English

Noun

compliment ‎(plural compliments)

  1. An expression of praise, congratulation, encouragement, or respect.
    • Milton
      Tedious waste of time, to sit and hear / So many hollow compliments and lies.
    • Cowper
      many a compliment politely penned
  2. (uncountable) Complimentary language; courtesy, flattery.
    • 1871–72, George Eliot, Middlemarch, Chapter 3
      This accomplished man condescended to think of a young girl, and take the pains to talk to her, not with absurd compliment, but with an appeal to her understanding, and sometimes with instructive correction.
  3. Misspelling of complement.

Synonyms

  • See Wikisaurus:praise

Antonyms

Derived terms

Translations

Verb

compliment ‎(third-person singular simple present compliments, present participle complimenting, simple past and past participle complimented)

  1. (transitive, intransitive) To pay a compliment (to); to express a favorable opinion (of).
    • Prior
      Monarchs should their inward soul disguise; […] / Should compliment their foes and shun their friends.
  2. Misspelling of complement.

Antonyms

Translations

Catalan

Noun

compliment m ‎(plural compliments)

  1. compliment

Dutch

Pronunciation

  • Hyphenation: com‧pli‧ment
  • Rhymes: -ɛnt

Etymology

From French compliment, from Italian complimento.

Noun

compliment n ‎(plural complimenten, diminutive complimentje n)

  1. compliment

French

Etymology

Borrowing from Italian complimento. More at English compliment.

Pronunciation

Noun

compliment m ‎(plural compliments)

  1. compliment (positive comment)

Derived terms

Etymology

From French, from Italian complimento Spanish cumplimiento, from cumplir, from Vulgar Latin complire, from Latin complere. The verb is derived from the noun.

Pronunciation

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