compliment
AI In plain words
Writing a short explanation…
Written by a house AI from the entry below, in your language. The entry itself is the source.
compliment¹
- /ˈkɑmpləmənt/ US
- /ˈkɒmplɪmənt/ UK
Sounds like complement
Where it comes from
Borrowed from French compliment, itself a borrowing of Italian complimento, which in turn is a borrowing from Spanish cumplimiento, from cumplir (“to comply, complete, do what is proper”) + -miento or Latin complēmentum. Doublet of complement. Displaced Old English ġeswǣsnes.
noun compliments
- An expression of praise, congratulation, or respect. pay someone a compliment
- Complimentary language; courtesy, flattery. He told the Captain, He was heartily sorry for his Misfortunes; tho’ in my Opinion that was nothing but a Compliment: For, as I found afterwards, he was more brutish, and dishonest, than most of the other Kings on the Island […]
- Misspelling of complement.complement
Similar: praise
compliment²
- /ˈkɑmpləmənt/ US
- /ˈkɒmplɪmənt/ UK
Sounds like complement
Where it comes from
Borrowed from French complimenter, from compliment + -er (verb-forming suffix).
verb compliments · complimenting · complimented
- To pay a compliment (to someone); to express a favourable opinion (of someone). […] She transferr'd the curs'd Advice, / That Monarchs ſhould their inward Soul diſguise, / Diſſemble, and command; be falſe, and wiſe; / By ignominous Arts for ſervile Ends / Should compliment their Foes, and ſhun their Friends.
- Misspelling of complement.complement
