compliment
verb
- say something nice
noun
- expression of praise
Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /ˈkɑmpləmənt/ / /ˈkɒmplɪmənt/
noun
Etymology: 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.
- An expression of praise, congratulation, or respect.
“pay someone a compliment”
“[…] I met him With customary compliment; when he, Wafting his eyes to the contrary and falling A lip of much contempt, speeds from me and So leaves me to consider what is breeding That changeth thus his manners.”
- 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 […]”
“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.”
- Misspelling of complement.
verb
Etymology: Borrowed from French complimenter, from compliment + -er (verb-forming suffix).
- 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.