compliment: [17] Compliment and complement, so often confused, are in effect doublets. They come from the same ultimate source, Latin complēmentum, a noun derived from complēre ‘fill up, finish’ (source of English complete and accomplish). English borrowed complement direct from Latin in the 14th century in the sense ‘fulfilment, accomplishment’, and by the 16th century this had developed the more specific metaphorical meaning ‘fulfilment of the obligation of politeness’ – hence ‘polite words of praise’.
But then in the 17th century came competition in the form of compliment, also meaning ‘polite words of praise’. This also came from Latin complēmentum, but along a circuitous route via Vulgar Latin *complimentum, Spanish cumplimiento, and French compliment. It gradually took over from complement in this ‘flattering’ sense, while complement went on to develop its leading current meaning, ‘counterpart’, in the 19th century. => accomplish, complement, complete, comply, expletive, plenary, plenty
compliment (n.)
"An act, or expression of civility, usually understood to include some hypocrisy, and to mean less than it declares" [Johnson], 1570s, complement, via French compliment (17c.), from Italian complimento "expression of respect and civility," from Vulgar Latin *complire, for Latin complere "to complete" (see complete (adj.)), via notion of "complete the obligations of politeness." Same word as complement but by a different etymological route; differentiated by spelling after 1650.
compliment (v.)
1610s, from French complimenter, from compliment (see compliment (n.)). Related: Complimented; complimenting.
雙語例句
1. We consider it a compliment to be called "conservative"
我們認為被稱作“保守分子”是對我們的一種贊賞。
來自柯林斯例句
2. Saying she's improved comes over as a backhanded compliment.
說她進步了聽起來倒像是一種諷刺。
來自柯林斯例句
3. His lips curved up in the obligatory smile, acknowledging the compliment.
他嘴邊禮節性地擠出一個微笑，以示對稱贊致謝。
來自柯林斯例句
4. She may be fishing for a compliment and welcome your reassurance.
她也許是在拐彎抹角地想獲得稱贊，希望得到你的肯定。
來自柯林斯例句
5. Laura acknowledged this compliment with a negligent wave of her left hand.