Comply
Pronunciation
- Rhymes: -aɪ
Origin
From Old French compli, past participle of complir.
Full definition of comply
Verb
- To yield assent; to accord; agree, or acquiesce; to adapt one's self; to consent or conform.
- John Milton (1608-1674)Yet this be sure, in nothing to comply,
Scandalous or forbidden in our law. - John Tillotson (1630-1694)They did servilely comply with the people in worshiping God by sensible images.
- 1664?, Samuel Butler, HudibrasHe that complies against his will
Is of his own opinion still. - 1922, Ben Travers, A Cuckoo in the Nest Chapter 6, But Sophia's mother was not the woman to brook defiance. After a few moments' vain remonstrance her husband complied.
- 2009, W:Cuba, The U.S. Congress passed a resolution calling for intervention and President William McKinley was quick to comply.
- (archaic) To be ceremoniously courteous; to make one's compliments.
- 1599, William Shakespeare, , II. ii. 371:Let me comply with you in this
garb, lest my extent to the players, which I tell you must
show fairly outwards, should more appear like entertainment
than yours. - (archaic) To fulfill; to accomplish.
- (archaic) To enfold; to embrace.
- Robert Herrick (1591-1674)Seemed to comply,
Cloudlike, the daintie deitie.
Usage notes
Usually followed by "with".