Meaning of "compliment" in the English dictionary

ETYMOLOGY OF THE WORD COMPLIMENT

From French, from Italian complimento, from Spanish cumplimiento, from cumplir to complete, do what is fitting, be polite.

Etymology is the study of the origin of words and their changes in structure and significance.

PRONUNCIATION OF COMPLIMENT

compliment  [ˈkɒmplɪmənt]

GRAMMATICAL CATEGORY OF COMPLIMENT

Compliment is a verb and can also act as a noun.

A noun is a type of word the meaning of which determines reality. Nouns provide the names for all things: people, objects, sensations, feelings, etc.

The verb is the part of the sentence that is conjugated and expresses action and state of being.

See the conjugation of the verb compliment in English.

WHAT DOES COMPLIMENT MEAN IN ENGLISH?

Compliment

A compliment is an expression of praise, congratulation or encouragement. Compliment may also refer to: ▪ Compliment, a formalized respectful action paid to a superior, such as saluting an officer in the armed forces ▪ Compliment, a typeface by Ludwig & Mayer ▪ Backhanded compliment, an insult disguised as a compliment Compliments may refer to: ▪ Compliments, an album by Jerry Garcia ▪ "Compliments" ▪ "Compliments" ▪ Compliments slip, a small acknowledgement note, less formal than a letter...

Definition of compliment in the English dictionary

The first definition of compliment in the dictionary is a remark or act expressing respect, admiration, etc. Other definition of compliment is a greeting of respect or regard. Compliment is also to express admiration of; congratulate or commend.

CONJUGATION OF THE VERB TO COMPLIMENT

PRESENT

Present

I compliment

you compliment

he/she/it compliments

we compliment

you compliment

they compliment

Present continuous

I am complimenting

you are complimenting

he/she/it is complimenting

we are complimenting

you are complimenting

they are complimenting

Present perfect

I have complimented

you have complimented

he/she/it has complimented

we have complimented

you have complimented

they have complimented

Present perfect continuous

I have been complimenting

you have been complimenting

he/she/it has been complimenting

we have been complimenting

you have been complimenting

they have been complimenting

Present tense is used to refer to circumstances that exist at the present time or over a period that includes the present time. The present perfect refers to past events, although it can be considered to denote primarily the resulting present situation rather than the events themselves.

PAST

Past

I complimented

you complimented

he/she/it complimented

we complimented

you complimented

they complimented

Past continuous

I was complimenting

you were complimenting

he/she/it was complimenting

we were complimenting

you were complimenting

they were complimenting

Past perfect

I had complimented

you had complimented

he/she/it had complimented

we had complimented

you had complimented

they had complimented

Past perfect continuous

I had been complimenting

you had been complimenting

he/she/it had been complimenting

we had been complimenting

you had been complimenting

they had been complimenting

Past tense forms express circumstances existing at some time in the past,

FUTURE

Future

I will compliment

you will compliment

he/she/it will compliment

we will compliment

you will compliment

they will compliment

Future continuous

I will be complimenting

you will be complimenting

he/she/it will be complimenting

we will be complimenting

you will be complimenting

they will be complimenting

Future perfect

I will have complimented

you will have complimented

he/she/it will have complimented

we will have complimented

you will have complimented

they will have complimented

Future perfect continuous

I will have been complimenting

you will have been complimenting

he/she/it will have been complimenting

we will have been complimenting

you will have been complimenting

they will have been complimenting

The future is used to express circumstances that will occur at a later time.

CONDITIONAL

Conditional

I would compliment

you would compliment

he/she/it would compliment

we would compliment

you would compliment

they would compliment

Conditional continuous

I would be complimenting

you would be complimenting

he/she/it would be complimenting

we would be complimenting

you would be complimenting

they would be complimenting

Conditional perfect

I would have compliment

you would have compliment

he/she/it would have compliment

we would have compliment

you would have compliment

they would have compliment

Conditional perfect continuous

I would have been complimenting

you would have been complimenting

he/she/it would have been complimenting

we would have been complimenting

you would have been complimenting

they would have been complimenting

Conditional or "future-in-the-past" tense refers to hypothetical or possible actions.

IMPERATIVE

Imperative

you compliment
we let´s compliment
you compliment

The imperative is used to form commands or requests.

NONFINITE VERB FORMS

Infinitive

to compliment

Past participle

complimented

Present Participle

complimenting

Infinitive shows the action beyond temporal perspective. The present participle or gerund shows the action during the session. The past participle shows the action after completion.

SYNONYMS OF «COMPLIMENT»

The following words have a similar or identical meaning as «compliment» and belong to the same grammatical category.

synonyms of compliment

admiration · big up · bouquet · commend · commendation · congratulate · congratulations · courtesy · crack up · eulogy · extol · felicitate · flatter · flattery · honour · laud · pat on the back · praise · regards · respects · salutation · salute · tribute

TRANSLATION OF COMPLIMENT

Find out the translation of compliment to 25 languages with our English multilingual translator.

The translations of compliment from English to other languages presented in this section have been obtained through automatic statistical translation; where the essential translation unit is the word «compliment» in English.

• Translator English - Chinese: 称赞
• Translator English - Spanish: halago
• English: compliment
• Translator English - Hindi: तारीफ
• Translator English - Arabic: مُجَامَلَة
• Translator English - Russian: комплимент
• Translator English - Portuguese: cumprimento
• Translator English - Bengali: শংসা
• Translator English - French: compliment
• Translator English - Malay: Pujian
• Translator English - German: Kompliment
• Translator English - Japanese: ほめことば
• Translator English - Korean: 칭찬
• Translator English - Javanese: Pujian
• Translator English - Vietnamese: lời khen
• Translator English - Tamil: பாராட்டு
• Translator English - Marathi: प्रशंसा
• Translator English - Turkish: iltifat
• Translator English - Italian: complimento
• Translator English - Polish: komplement
• Translator English - Ukrainian: комплімент
• Translator English - Romanian: compliment
• Translator English - Greek: φιλοφρόνηση
• Translator English - Afrikaans: kompliment
• Translator English - Swedish: komplimang
• Translator English - Norwegian: kompliment

10 QUOTES WITH «COMPLIMENT»

Famous quotes and sentences with the word compliment.

1

Jeff Abbott

The nicest notes I've received from readers are those that tell me I've gotten them back into reading for entertainment. For me, there is no greater compliment.

2

Michael Angarano

To be unrecognizable in movies is the biggest compliment that anybody can give you.

3

Minna Antrim

There never was a woman who did not prefer an oblique compliment to a straight truth - if the latter were unflattering.

4

Kathy Baker

I've heard that kind of weird backward compliment often - 'She's so talented, but not pretty.'

5

Mary J. Blige

Just don't let the hype of what people are saying and how much they love you, y'know, just take the compliment and be thankful that people are complimenting you, but don't let it consume you; don't let your circumstances around you and the way people view you make you act a certain way.

6

Sean Booth

So when they come around and say they want to do our stuff in America, it's compliment really.

7

Nestor Carbonell

Before it was revealed that my character on 'Lost' had a troubled history, a fan came up to me and said, 'Wow, you're a really nice guy.' To me, that was a compliment, having played a very villainous guy.

8

Linda Cardellini

People who have no idea it's me when they first see me playing something, and later they realize, 'That's her from whatever it is,' it's a great compliment that they can forget.

9

Tommy Chong

You look at Cheney, Rumsfeld, Karl Rove, and Bush - if you saw them on Halloween, they wouldn't need a costume. You'd give them a treat and compliment them on what great-looking demons they were. They are demons. There's no doubt about it.

10

Luc de Clapiers

If people did not compliment one another there would be little society.

10 ENGLISH BOOKS RELATING TO «COMPLIMENT»

Discover the use of compliment in the following bibliographical selection. Books relating to compliment and brief extracts from same to provide context of its use in English literature.

The Art of the Compliment: Using Kind Words with Grace and Style

Philosopher William James once said, “The deepest principle in human nature is the desire to be appreciated.” This is a fun, fabulous, reader-friendly book all about compliments—the history of compliments, how to use them, best-loved ...

Christie Matheson, 2013

Compliments and Compliment Responses: Grammatical Structure ...

This book analyzes compliments and compliment responses in naturally occurring talk-in-interaction in German.

Andrea Golato, 2005

Criticism and Compliment: The Politics of Literature in the ...

Criticism and Compliment examines the poems, plays and masques of the three figures who succeeded Ben Jonson as authors of court entertainments in the England of Charles I. The courtly literature of Caroline England has been dismissed by ...

Kevin Sharpe, 1990

The Compliment Quotient

The Compliment Quotient details one, simple practice that will transform your relationships and rally your spirits, as author Monica Strobel takes you on a light-hearted journey to understand the life-changing power of giving more and ...

Monica Strobel, 2011

I'll Have What She's Having: The Ultimate Compliment for any ...

In this book, Bobbie speaks openly, honestly and warmly of her conviction that all women, including those in leadership and ministry, ought to live lives that are the ultimate example of Christ-influenced character.

Bobbie Houston, 2008

The Compliment

This diversity and variety add delight and adventure to her charmed life until she becomes of age and realizes that every creature in her vast world has a compliment - a mate - with which they can produce little ones of their kind. That is, every ...

Don Lucas, 2009

Compliment Responses in Different Languages and the Problem ...

In most speech communities, the speech act of complimenting is a well established politeness strategy.

Natalie Lewis, 2004

Pretty for a Black Girl!: Compliment Or Insult?

Pretty for a black girl! is a truthful, inspirational, thought- provoking read.

Aisha Curry, 2009

Self-esteem: Ages 8-10

Indicators • Defines what is meant by a compliment and why it is given. • Understands that different people accept compliments in different ways. • Demonstrates appropriate acceptance of compliments. Pre-lesson focus discussion Discuss ...

Amelia Ruscoe, 2005

Speech Act Performance: Theoretical, Empirical and ...

Compliment responses A high value placed on humility and modesty along with a concomitant desire to avoid self-praise were reported as underlying Thai ESL responses in data from recorded interviews and participant observation (Cedar, ...

Alicia Martínez Flor, Esther Usó Juan, 2010

10 NEWS ITEMS WHICH INCLUDE THE TERM «COMPLIMENT»

Find out what the national and international press are talking about and how the term compliment is used in the context of the following news items.

What men should know about: compliments

"The best compliment I've ever received was when someone talked about my ... Never make sexual allusions or base the compliment solely on her outward ... «GQ India, Jul 15»

Kanye West Gives Pharrell Williams A Compliment He Usually Gives …

Nearly one hour prior to that compliment, Kanye tweeted his own review of Pharrell Williams' newest hit song “Freedom” as well as its artistic ... «The Inquisitr, Jul 15»

Nico Muhly interview: 'Every compliment destroys me'

New York-based composer Nico Muhly has been musing on the river Thames. Walking along its south bank from Bermondsey to Rotherhithe, ... «The Independent, Jul 15»

July 3rd is 'National Compliment Your Mirror Day'

According to the National Day-of Calender, Friday July 3rd is "National Compliment Your Mirror Day." Here's how it works: Find the closest ... «WAFB.com, Jul 15»

When 'You're So Skinny!' Isn't Quite a Compliment

I am a very skinny woman. I have always been thin, but over the last few years, I have lost a great deal of weight because of depression and ... «New York Times, Jul 15»

Why a Compliment About My Eyes Was Hard for Me to Believe

Whenever I hear or read the words strabismus or infantile esotropia, my heart stops and a pervasive feeling of numbness runs through my ... «Huffington Post, Jul 15»

Catcalling is not a compliment: Why men catcall brings up bigger …

A catcall is an atrocious remark often structured in a way that makes it seem like a compliment – at least to the one who isn't receiving it. «The University of Hawaii Kaleo, Jul 15»

Asking if I've lost weight isn't a compliment

What value does asking if I've lost weight add to the compliment? All it does is remind me you've noticed I'm overweight and think a change to ... «Daily Life, Jun 15»

Clearing up compliment vs. complement

So when you say to someone that his shirt and tie are “complementary,” meaning they look well together, you are paying him a “compliment. «Columbia Journalism Review, Jun 15»

A great compliment paid Christ

Sometimes, however, an intended ridicule, harsh accusation, or insult may actually be a compliment. This is the case in Luke 15:1-2, our text. «Pike County News Watchman, Jun 15»