Compliment (pronounced kom-pluh-muhnt (noun) or kom-pluh-ment (verb))
(1) An
expression of praise, commendation, or admiration (noun).
(2) A
formal act or expression of civility, respect, or regard (noun).
(3) A
courteous greeting; good wishes; regards (noun).
(4) To
pay a compliment to (verb).
(5) To
show kindness or regard for by a gift or other favour (verb).
1570–1580:
From the French compliment from the Italian complimento,
a borrowing from the Spanish cumplimiento
from cumplir (to complete, do what is
proper or fitting, be polite). The
construct was compli- (from complir) + -miento (from the Old Spanish, from the Late Latin -mentum, from the Classical Latin -menta. A doublet of –mento (and used as the suffix –ment in Modern English), it formed nouns
from verbs with the sense of the action or process. Compliment is a doublet of complement and
related forms are complimentable (adjective), complimenter (noun), complimentingly
(adverb) and outcompliment (verb (used with object)). Synonyms include admiration, applause, commendation,
homage, ovation, blessing, courtesy, adulation, endorsement, tribute,
congratulate, applaud, laud, commend, cajole, endorse, extol, acclaim, bouquet
and confirmation.
Complement (pronounced kom-pluh-muhnt
(noun) or kom-pluh-ment (verb))
(1) Something
that completes or makes perfect (noun).
(2) The
quantity or amount that completes anything (noun).
(3) Either
of two parts or things needed to complete the whole; counterpart (noun).
(4) To
complete; form a complement to (verb)
1350–1400:
A Middle English borrowing from the Old French from the Latin complēmentum (something that completes;
that which fills up) from compleō (I
fill up, I complete). The construct was complē(re) (to fill up) + -mentum
(derived from the Latin suffix -menta in collective nouns like armenta (herd,
flock); the Latin -menta is from the primitive Indo-European -mn̥the. The
related Latin complēre (to fill up) is formed from com- (intensive) + plēre (to
fill). Complement is a doublet of
compliment.
Complement and compliment, which (noun & verb) are
pronounced alike and originally shared some meanings, evolved to become
separate words with entirely different meanings. As a noun, complement means “something that augments, completes or makes perfect”. As a verb,
complement means “to add to or complete”. The noun
compliment means “an expression of praise, commendation, or admiration”. The verb compliment means “to pay a
compliment to”.
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