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comply

Etymology and origin of the English word comply

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Borrowing
First attested
before 1333
From
Middle English complien
Ultimate origin
Latin (complere)

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /kəmˈplaɪ/[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Middle English complien, to fulfil, carry out, probably from Old French compli, past participle of complir, to accomplish,[2][3] from Vulgar Latin *complīre, from Latin complēre, to fill up (see complete).[3][2] The modern senses are a reintroduction in the 17th century from Italian complire, which had come to mean to satisfy the forms of courtesy (compare compliment),[3][4][5] itself from Catalan complir and Spanish cumplir.[4][6]

Earliest recorded meaning

To fulfil, carry out, accomplish: before 1333, in the poems of William of Shoreham;[2] the early 14th century in Etymonline.[3]

Semantic evolution

To use compliments or observe formalities is from 1602,[7] and to be complaisant or agreeable to someone from before 1631.[7] To act in accordance with others' wishes or with rules, comply with, is from 1642,[7] and the sense consent, submit, is first recorded in 1647–50.[2] Compliance is from 1641, first meaning an act of courtesy.[2]

Timeline

  • before 1333 – to fulfil.[2]
  • 1602 – to observe formalities.[7]
  • 1641 – compliance.[2]
  • 1642 – to comply with.[7]
  • 1650 – to consent.[2]

Modern meaning

Verb

  1. To act in accordance with a rule, command, request or wish; to obey.
  2. (obsolete) To be courteous or complaisant.

Word family

Usage notes

In Cheshire dialect, comply meant to fit or coincide.[8]

References

  1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Barnhart, Robert K. (1988), The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology
  3. ^ a b c d Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b Hoad, T. F., ed. (1986), The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  6. ^ Pearsall, Judy, ed. (1998), The New Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  7. ^ a b c d e Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
  8. ^ Wright, Joseph, ed. (1898–1905), The English Dialect Dictionary, 6 vols., Oxford: Henry Frowde; via EDD Online 4.0, University of Innsbruck (CC BY 4.0)
Cite this entry

“Comply.” Etymologically, 17 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/en/comply. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·