compliment

  • noun /komplimnt/ 1 an expression of praise or admiration, either in words or by an action. 2 (compliments) formal greetings.

  • verb /kompliment/ politely congratulate or praise.

  — PHRASES return the compliment retaliate or respond in kind. with the compliments of someone given without charge.

  — USAGE On the confusion of compliment and complement, see the note at COMPLEMENT.

  — ORIGIN Italian complimento ‘fulfilment of the requirements of courtesy’, from Latin complementum ‘completion, fulfilment’.

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