Compliment

Pronunciation

• US IPA: /ˈkÉ‘mplÉ™mÉ™nt/
• RP IPA: /ˈkÉ’mplɪmÉ™nt/
• Homophones: complement

From French, from Italian complimento, from Vulgar Latin complire, from Latin complere

Full definition of compliment

Noun

1. An expression of praise, congratulation, encouragement, or respect.
• MiltonTedious waste of time, to sit and hear
  So many hollow compliments and lies.
• Cowpermany a compliment politely penned
2. (uncountable) Complimentary language; courtesy, flattery.
• Eliot Middlemarch|3This 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.
3. Misconstruction of complement

Synonyms

Antonyms

• insult

Derived terms

From French, from Italian complimento Spanish cumplimiento, from cumplir, from Vulgar Latin complire, from Latin complere.

Verb

1. (ambitransitive) To pay a compliment (to); to express a favorable opinion (of).
• PriorMonarchs should their inward soul disguise; ...
  Should compliment their foes and shun their friends.
2. Misspelling of complement

Antonyms

• insult