comply
[kuh m-plahy]
- to act or be in accordance with wishes, requests, demands, requirements, conditions, etc.; agree (sometimes followed by with): They asked him to leave and he complied. She has complied with the requirements.
- Obsolete. to be courteous or conciliatory.
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Origin of comply
1595–1605; < Italian complire < Spanish cumplir (see compliment) to fulfill, accomplish < Latin complēre, equivalent to com- com- + plē- fill + -re infinitive suffix
Synonyms
See more synonyms for comply on Thesaurus.com1. acquiesce, yield, conform, obey, consent, assent.
Antonyms
1. refuse, resist.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for complied
Contemporary Examples
Chan ordered the man to put it down and the ensuing criminal complaint would say that he complied.
Sylvia insisted that Ted move out and he complied, going to stay in London.
Angleton complied, and Tony finally set the thing on fire “with a friend as witness.”
Davis said he complied and that a female officer straddled and then handcuffed him.
The cameramen hollered to him and turned him this way and that and he complied reluctantly, never relaxing.
Historical Examples
Let us see, whether we are to be complied with in any thing, or not.
Clarissa, Volume 2 (of 9)Samuel Richardson
I know they expect a great deal from it: you had not else had your long day complied with.
Clarissa, Volume 2 (of 9)Samuel Richardson
Mrs. Sliderskew complied, and inquired what the next one was.
The Life And Adventures Of Nicholas NicklebyCharles Dickens
He complied as to the chair, but appeared to find the speaking on less easy.
A Tale of Two CitiesCharles Dickens
I am sorry for it; but am afraid nothing you ask will be complied with.
Clarissa, Volume 3 (of 9)Samuel Richardson
comply
- (usually foll by with) to act in accordance with rules, wishes, etc; be obedient (to)
- obsolete to be obedient or complaisant
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Word Origin
C17: from Italian complire, from Spanish cumplir to complete; see compliment
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for complied
comply
v.
early 14c., "to fulfill, carry out," from Old French compli, past participle of complir "to accomplish, fulfill, carry out," from Vulgar Latin *complire, from Latin complere "to fill up" (see complete (adj.)). Meaning influenced by ply (v.2). Sense of "to consent" began c.1600 and might have been a reintroduction from Italian, where complire had come to mean "satisfy by 'filling up' the forms of courtesy."
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper