Adjacent Words

Compliment definitions

	Tweet

Webster's 1828 Dictionary

COMPLIMENT, n.
1. An expression of civility, respect or regard; as, to send, or make ones compliments to an absent friend. In this application, the plural is always used.
He observed few compliments in matter of arms.
2. A present or favor bestowed. My friend made me a compliment of Homers Iliad.
COMPLIMENT, v.t.
1. To praise; to flatter by expressions of approbation, esteem or respect.
Monarchs--
Should compliment their foes, and shun their friends.
She compliments Menelaus very handsomely.
2. To congratulate; as, to compliment a prince on the birth of a son.
3. To bestow a present; to manifest kindness or regard for, by a present or other favor.
He complimented us with tickets for the exhibition.
COMPLIMENT, v.i. To pass compliments; to use ceremony, or ceremonious language.
I make the interlocutors upon occasion compliment with each other.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a remark (or act) expressing praise and admiration v
1: say something to someone that expresses praise; "He complimented her on her last physics paper" [syn: compliment, congratulate]
2: express respect or esteem for

Merriam Webster's

I. noun Etymology: Middle French, from Italian complimento, from Spanish cumplimiento, from cumplir to be courteous — more at comply Date: 1598 1. a. an expression of esteem, respect, affection, or admiration; especially an admiring remark b. formal and respectful recognition ; honor 2. plural best wishes ; regards <accept my compliments> <compliments of the season> II. transitive verb Date: 1673 1. to pay a compliment to 2. to present with a token of esteem

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. & v. --n. 1 a a spoken or written expression of praise. b an act or circumstance implying praise (their success was a compliment to their efforts). 2 (in pl.) a formal greetings, esp. as a written accompaniment to a gift etc. (with the compliments of the management). b praise (my compliments to the cook). --v.tr. 1 (often foll. by on) congratulate; praise (complimented him on his roses). 2 (often foll. by with) present as a mark of courtesy (complimented her with his attention). Phrases and idioms: compliments of the season greetings appropriate to the time of year, esp. Christmas. compliments slip a printed slip of paper sent with a gift etc., esp. from a business firm. pay a compliment to praise. return the compliment 1 give a compliment in return for another. 2 retaliate or recompense in kind. Etymology: F complimenter f. It. complimento ult. f. L (as COMPLEMENT)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Compliment Com"pli*ment, n. [F. compliment. It complimento, fr. comlire to compliment, finish, suit, fr. L. complere to fill up. See Complete, and cf. Complement.] An expression, by word or act, of approbation, regard, confidence, civility, or admiration; a flattering speech or attention; a ceremonious greeting; as, to send one's compliments to a friend. Tedious waste of time, to sit and hear So many hollow compliments and lies. --Milton. Many a compliment politely penned. --Cowper. To make one a compliment, to show one respect; to praise one in a flattering way. --Locke. To make one's compliments to, to offer formal courtesies to. To stand on compliment, to treat with ceremony. Syn: See Adulation.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Compliment Com"pli*ment, v. t. To praise, flatter, or gratify, by expressions of approbation, respect, or congratulation; to make or pay a compliment to. Monarchs should their inward soul disguise; . . . Should compliment their foes and shun their friends. --Prior. Syn: To praise; flatter; adulate; commend.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Compliment Com"pli*ment, v. i. To pass compliments; to use conventional expressions of respect. I make the interlocutors, upon occasion, compliment with one another. --Boyle.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(complimented) 1. A compliment is a polite remark that you say to someone to show that you like their appearance, appreciate their qualities, or approve of what they have done. You can do no harm by paying a woman compliments... 'Well done, Cassandra,' Crook said. She blushed, but accepted the compliment with good grace. N-COUNT 2. If you compliment someone, you pay them a compliment. They complimented me on the way I looked each time they saw me... VERB: V n on n 3. You can refer to your compliments when you want to express thanks, good wishes, or respect to someone in a formal way. My compliments to the chef... N-PLURAL: usu poss N, oft N to n [politeness] 4. If you say that someone returns the compliment, you mean that they do the same thing to someone else as that person has done to them. The actors have entertained us so splendidly during this weekend, I think it's time we returned the compliment. PHRASE: V inflects 5. If you say that you are giving someone something with your compliments, you are saying in a polite and fairly formal way that you are giving it to them, especially as a gift or a favour. Please give this to your boss with my compliments... PHRASE: PHR after v [politeness]

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. n. 1. Praise, commendation, encomium, laudation, good word. 2. Formal praise, hollow commendation, empty encomium, flattering remark, ceremonious phrase or flattery. II. v. a. 1. Praise, commend, flatter (by expressions of civility). 2. Congratulate.

1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue

See CHRISTMAS.

Foolish Dictionary

v. t., From Eng. con,--hot air, and Lat. pleo, to fill. Hence, to fill with hot air.

Moby Thesaurus

TL, acclaim, accolade, adulate, adulation, applaud, benevolence, beslobber, beslubber, best wishes, blandish, blandishment, blarney, bless, blessing, blessings, boon, bouquet, bunkum, cajole, cajolement, cajolery, commend, commendation, compliments, conceit, congratulate, congratulation, congratulations, encomium, eulogy, eyewash, fair words, favor, fawn upon, fawning, felicitate, felicitation, flatter, flattering remark, flattery, give a bouquet, good wishes, gratulate, gratulation, grease, greetings, hail, hand it to, homage, honeyed phrases, honeyed words, honor, incense, largess, laud, laudation, make fair weather, oil, oil the tongue, orchids, palaver, pay a compliment, polite commendation, posy, praise, present, pretty lies, recommend, regards, rejoice with, respects, salutations, slobber over, soap, soft soap, sweet nothings, sweet talk, sweet words, sycophancy, take off, trade-last, tribute, wheedle, wheedling