compliment
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About Our Definitions: All forms of a word (noun, verb, etc.) are now displayed on one page.1com·pli·ment
noun \ˈkäm-plə-mənt\Definition of COMPLIMENT
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>
See Examples of COMPLIMENT
- He told her he admired her paintings and she returned the compliment by saying that she was a fan of his sculptures.
- When customers recommend our company to friends and family members, we consider that to be the highest compliment we can get.
- Boys in the Midwest grow up without a word of praise, their parents fearful that a compliment might make them vain … —Garrison Keillor, WLT: A Radio Romance, 1991
- Mallard scowled at him. He had never learned to receive compliment or expressions of gratitude gracefully. —Dorothy Simpson, The Night She Died, 1981
- “The warden said he wouldn't let just anybody have a young swan, but he'd let you have one because you understand about birds, and he trusts you. That's quite a compliment, son.” Mr. Beaver looked pleased. —E. B. White, The Trumpet Of The Swan, (1970) 2000
- The first presentation of Falstaff I ever saw was yours … Perhaps the best compliment I can pay is to say, as I truly can, I am very anxious to see it again. —Abraham Lincoln, letter, 17 Aug. 1863
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Origin of COMPLIMENT
Middle French, from Italian complimento, from Spanish cumplimiento, from cumplir to be courteous — more at comply
First Known Use: 1598
2com·pli·ment
transitive verb \ˈkäm-plə-ˌment\Definition of COMPLIMENT
1
: to express esteem, respect, affection, or admiration to : to pay a compliment to
2
: to present with a token of esteem
Examples of COMPLIMENT
- <complimented her on her election victory>
- She was forever complimenting Ziba's exotic appearance and asking for her viewpoint on various international issues. —Anne Tyler, Digging to America, 2006
- … she had gotten a three-and-a-half-star review in the Nut County Reporter, complimenting her especially on her crème brûlée and her pork medallions … —Jane Smiley, Good Faith, 2003
- What a day. She had been winked at, complimented, given a gift, and now mistaken for the mysterious Alyce … —Karen Cushman, The Midwife's Apprentice, 1995
- Wilde would compliment him later: ‘I have always regarded you as the best critic of my plays.’ ‘But I have never criticised your plays,’ said Tree. ‘That's why,’ said Wilde. —Richard Ellmann, Oscar Wilde, (1984) 1988
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Origin of COMPLIMENT
(see 1compliment)
First Known Use: 1673
Related to COMPLIMENT
- Synonyms
- congratulate, felicitate, hug
Rhymes with COMPLIMENT
accident, aliment, Blaenau Gwent, circumvent, compartment, complement, confident, devilment, diffident, discontent, document, evident, heaven-sent, implement, incident, instrument, Jack-a-Lent, malcontent, nonevent, Occident, ornament, orient, provident, regiment, reinvent, represent, re-present, resident, Saint-Laurent, sediment, self-content, subsequent, supplement
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