| 释义 |
▪ I. compliment, n.|ˈkɒmplɪmənt|
Also 7 complyment.
[Adopted in end of 17th c. from F. compliment, 16th c. ad. It. complimento, ‘expression of respect and civility to another by words or by acts’. The L. complēmentum, Romanic complimento, became in OF. complement (compliement), in It. compimento, with the original sense of ‘filling up, fulfilment, accomplishment’; in OCat. complimento, Sp. cumplimiento, there was a special development of use, as in the verb (see comply), giving the sense ‘observance or fulfilment of the requirements and forms of courtesy’, which was adopted in It. in the form complimento, and thence passed into Fr. and Eng. Compliment is thus a doublet of complement (the form directly from Latin). The latter was in use in this sense about a century before the introduction of the French word, which slowly took its place between 1655 and 1715: see complement n. 9, where the earlier history of this sense may be seen; cf. also comply.
H. L'Estrange's comply-ment, compli-ment (in sense 1, 1 b), appear to have been formed for the nonce on comply, before compliment was in Eng. use. Cf. Skinner, 1668–71 ‘complement a. Fr. compliment, It. complimento, hæc a verbo to Comply, q.d. Comply-ments’.
(From c 1700 to the present day nearly all editions of 16–17th c. works, whether re-issues of printed books or original editions from MS. (e.g. Clarendon's History, Pepys' Diary, Letters of Dorothy Osborne, etc.), systematically alter the original spelling complement into compliment, as do also modern dictionaries in their alleged quotations; only contemporary documents supply evidence as to the introduction of the French form.)]
1. A ceremonial act or expression as a tribute of courtesy, ‘usually understood to mean less than it declares’ (J.); now, esp. a neatly-turned remark addressed to any one, implying or involving praise; but, also applied to a polite expression of praise or commendation in speaking of a person, or to any act taken as equivalent thereto: see the modern examples. In phrases, as to pass, pay, make, etc. a compliment. to return the compliment: to pay back compliment with compliment; to retaliate. Chinese compliment: see Chinese.
[1578–1707see complement n. 9.] 1654H. L'Estrange Chas. I (1655) 2 His [Charles's] reception at the Spanish Court..was with all possible ceremonies of honour, and specious comply-ments. 1673Sir W. Temple in Essex Papers (1890) 119, I tooke occasion to make a short compliment from your Excy to my Lord Chancellor..My Lord Chancellor returned the compliment with much civility. 1704Luttrell Brief Rel. (1857) V. 455 The elector of Bavaria..ordered his troops to give no quarter to the English..which being known..they returned the compliment upon them. 1709Steele Tatler No. 16 ⁋4 These Ministers..made him Compliments in the Name of the States General. 1749Fielding Tom Jones (1836) I. ii. vi. 79, I make a just compliment to the great wisdom..of our law. 1826Disraeli Viv. Grey vii. iii. 395 Compliments are doubly agreeable from a crowned head. 1827Hare Guesses (1859) 153 A compliment is usually accompanied with a bow, as if to beg pardon for paying it. 1836Hor. Smith Tin Trump. (1876) 98 Compliment—a thing often paid by people who pay nothing else. 1868Queen Victoria Tours in Eng. & Ir. 189, I intend to create Bertie ‘Earl of Dublin’, as a compliment to the town and country; he has no Irish title. Mod. They have paid him the compliment of electing him an honorary member. How could he have paid you a higher compliment than to adopt your conclusions?
b. (without a or pl.) Complimentary language; polite expression of praise or flattery.
1654H. L'Estrange K. Charles 4 Lewis, who disdained to be wanting in any dues of compli-ment. 1682Sir C. Sedley in Lett. 2nd Earl Chesterfield (1829) 232 Being, without compliment or any regard to the common close of a letter, your very Obedient Servant. 1705Pope Let. Wycherley 23 June (Wks. 1737), You treat me so much in a style of compliment. 1814Scott Wav. xxvii, To say something within the verge of ordinary compliment and conversation.
2. usually in pl. Formal respects, remembrances, greetings; esp. in phrases, as to make, pay, present, send (one's) compliments, and the like. compliments of the season: greetings appropriate to the (Christmas) season.
1733Swift Lett. (1766) II. 181 The whole family of my ladies send their compliments. 1739Ibid. II. 259, I made his royal highness your compliments, which he accepted with much satisfaction. 1766T. Wroughton in Ellis Orig. Lett. ii. IV. 507 (24 Dec.), I heartily wish you the Compliments of the Season. 1774Chesterfield Lett. I. ix. 29 Make my compliments to your mamma. 1814Scott Wav. xxxix, His compliments were..delivered by a servant. 1818in Sir J. Sinclair's Corr. (1831) II. 56 Mr. Rush presents his compliments to Sir John Sinclair, and begs to acknowledge the receipt of his obliging note. 1838Lytton Alice 125 Kind compliments to Mr. Merton.
†b. with specifying words. Obs.
[1677Govt. Venice 105 [Sent] with Complements of Condolence for the death of his Father, and Complements of Congratulation for his Access to the Crown. ]1736Col. Rec. Penn. IV. 55 An Opportunity of paying their Compliments of Condolance. 1771Smollett Humph. Cl. (1815) 179 Lady Griskin had come to make her formal compliments of condolence to Mrs. Tabitha. a1773Chesterfield (O.), Compliments of congratulation are always kindly taken.
3. A complimentary gift, a present, gratuity. to make one a compliment of (a thing). arch. or dial. Bristol compliment (see quot. 1854).
1722Lond. Gaz. No. 6101/2 The Prince..made a Compliment of his Horse and Furniture to the Collonel. 1758Binnell Descr. Thames 36 It was..the Residence of the Princess Anne..the Duke of Sommerset having made her a Compliment of it. 1789in Picton L'Pool Munic. Rec. (1886) II. 266 The compliment he expects for the plans already furnished. 1812Examiner 21 Sept. 606/1 The Verger..said ‘he expected a compliment’. 1854N. & Q. Ser. i. IX. 541/1 A present made of an article that you do not care about keeping yourself is called ‘a Bristol Compliment’. 1860Bartlett Dict. Amer., Compliment, a present. South-Western.
fig.1702W. Perry Hist. Coll. Amer. Col. Ch. I. 70 Englishmen..will never more become very apt to make a Compliment to their Princes Prerogative of their English Libertys. 1743Fielding Jon. Wild i. i, Nothing is more usual with writers, who find many instances of greatness in their favorite hero, than to make him a compliment of goodness into the bargain.
¶4. Occas. in sense of complement 4 c. Obs.
1708Chamberlayne St. Gt. Brit. i. ii. xiv. (1743) 133 The Men, full Compliment, 1250.
5. attrib. and Comb., as compliment-monger.
1726Amherst Terræ Fil. xliv. (1741) 232, I shall give you..instances of these ecclesiastical compliment-mongers.
▪ II. compliment, v.|kɒmplɪˈmɛnt|
[a. F. complimente-r, f. compliment: see prec. Pronounced by some with stress on first syllable; but the final syllable is always clear.]
1. intr. To employ ceremony or formal courtesy in act or expression; now only as absol. use of sense 2; ‘to use ceremonious or adulatory language’ (J.).
[1612–1697see complement v. 2.] 1663Cowley Cutter Colman-St. iv. viii. 52 My Father sent me in to Complement [edd. 1710 etc., compliment], And keep a Prating here. 1697Vanbrugh Relapse i. ii, Ha, ha! Your honour's pleased to compliment. 1815Jane Austen Emma iii. ii. 274 Believe me, I never compliment. 1873Browning Red Cotton Night-Cap Country 658 A park—Yes, but à l'Anglaise, as they compliment!
2. trans. To address or greet with formal expressions of civility, respect, or regard; to pay a compliment to; ‘to soothe with acts or expressions of respect’ (J.); to flatter with polite and delicate praise.
[1649–1711see complement v. 3. 1668 Pepys Diary 6 Mar., Being complimented [MS. complemented] by everybody with admiration. a1680Butler Rem. (1759) I. 212 As Roman Noblemen were wont to greet, And compliment the Rabble in the Street. ]1735Berkeley Freethink. in Math. 19 Wks. III. 310 You are pleased to compliment me with depth of thought. 1828D'Israeli Chas. I, III. ix. 207 The English themselves had been feasted and complimented. 1838Emerson Addr. Wks. (Bohn) II. 203 You would compliment a coxcomb doing a good act, but you would not praise an angel.
b. to compliment away: to do away with, by compliments. to compliment (a person) into (a state), out of (a thing): to bring into, or ‘do’ out of, by compliments.
[1640–1715see complement v. 3 b.] 1705Pope Let. Wycherley 23 June, Complimenting me into a better opinion of my self than I deserve. 1826Southey Vind. Eccl. Angl. 360 Prelates..complimenting away the possessions of their sees to the crown.
c. fig.
a1704T. Brown Eng. Sat. Wks. (1730) I. 25 Lycambes complimented the iambicks of Archilochus. 1710T. Fuller Pharm. Extemp. 287 Lozengis are..fit for delicate nice persons, that must have their Palates complimented. 1732Law Serious C. xxiii. (ed. 2) 469 Everything that compliments or flatters your abilities. 1850Lynch Theo. Trin. v. 84 To think we compliment God's heaven by despising his earth.
3. To congratulate formally (up)on; to felicitate.
1717Lady M. W. Montague Lett. II. xliv. 20 She is immediately complimented upon it by the others. 1863Geo. Eliot Romola ii. xxvi. (1880) I. 324 He was complimented on his opportune service. 1884F. M. Crawford Rom. Singer I. 22, I complimented the boy on the great progress he had made.
†b. Formerly also: To offer formal condolence: cf. compliments of condolence, in the n. 2 b.
1755Johnson, Condoler, one that compliments another upon his misfortunes [altered by Todd to ‘that condoles with’].
4. spec. To present (a person) with (a thing) as a mark of courtesy; to bestow (a degree, title, etc.) in compliment; to manifest courtesy by a gift or other favour.
[1682Prideaux Lett. (1875) 125 Ld. Herbert [was] at the same time, made Mr. of Arts..the University have complimented him with this degree. 1697–1732see complement v. 4]. 1717Lady M. W. Montague Lett. II. xliv. 20, I was complimented with perfumes. 1742Fielding Jos. Andrews ii. iv. 50 Bellarmine had complimented her with a brilliant from his finger. 1772Johnson Lett. I. lvi. 69 They complimented me with playing the fountain, and opening the cascade. 1855Macaulay Hist. Eng. III. 600 Prince George..fully expected to be complimented with a seat in the royal coach.
Hence compliˈmenting vbl. n. and ppl. a., compliˈmentingly adv.
[1654Cromwell Sp. 12 Sept. (Carlyle), Not complimentingly—God knows!] 1681Nevile Plato Rediv. 48, I thought you had said, Sir, that we should have done Complimenting. 1817Keatinge Trav. I. 225 After due..complimenting among the principal personages on each part, we proceeded. |