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compliment

[ noun kom-pluh-muhnt; verb kom-pluh-ment ]
/ noun ˈkɒm plə mənt; verb ˈkɒm pləˌmɛnt /
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See synonyms for: compliment / complimented / complimenting / compliments on Thesaurus.com

noun
verb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
to pay compliments.
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Origin of compliment

First recorded in 1570–80; from French, from Italian complimento from Spanish cumplimiento “compliance or fulfillment of the forms of a courtesy, ” equivalent to cumpli(r) “to complete” + -miento noun suffix; see origin at comply,-ment; earlier identical in spelling with complement

words often confused with compliment

OTHER WORDS FROM compliment

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH compliment

complement, compliment (see confusables note at complement)
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use compliment in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for compliment

compliment

noun (ˈkɒmplɪmənt)
a remark or act expressing respect, admiration, etc
(usually plural) a greeting of respect or regard
verb (ˈkɒmplɪˌmɛnt) (tr)
to express admiration of; congratulate or commend
to express or show respect or regard for, esp by a gift

Word Origin for compliment

C17: from French, from Italian complimento, from Spanish cumplimiento, from cumplir to complete, do what is fitting, be polite

undefined compliment

Avoid confusion with complement
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with compliment

compliment

see left-handed compliment; pay a compliment; return the compliment.

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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