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Complement vs Compliment: Meaning, Memory Trick, Examples

Stop mixing up complement and compliment with one memory pattern and contextual examples.

Compliment

//ˈkɑmpləmənt// noun, verb

Definitions

Noun

1
An expression of praise, congratulation, or respect.
"pay someone a compliment"
2
a remark (or act) expressing praise and admiration wordnet
3
Complimentary language; courtesy, flattery. uncountable
"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 […]"
4
Misspelling of complement. alt-of, misspelling

Verb

1
To pay a compliment (to someone); to express a favourable opinion (of someone). ambitransitive
"[…] 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."
2
say something to someone that expresses praise wordnet
3
Misspelling of complement. alt-of, misspelling
4
express respect or esteem for wordnet

Etymology

Etymology 1

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.

Etymology 2

Borrowed from French complimenter, from compliment + -er (verb-forming suffix).

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