complaire

Forms

complaire^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin complaceō (“to please; to take pleasure in”), adapted to the form of plaire.^[2][3][4][5] The Latin verb is formed from com- and placeō (“to please”).^[3][5][6] In classical Latin it meant “to please”; in Christian Latin it came to mean “to take pleasure in, delight in”.^[2][3]

Compare Italian compiacere and Spanish complacer.^[6]

Earliest recorded meaning

An isolated first record is in the Oxford Psalter, about 1120, translating Latin complacebam, “to show friendship to someone”.^[2][4] The word then reappears in the late 14th century, with Eustache Deschamps and in a 1373 ordinance.^[2][4][7]

Semantic evolution

The transitive construction complaire à quelqu'un “to fit in with someone's tastes in order to please them”, and of things “to be agreeable to someone” (1551), has lasted in literary French.^[3][2] Only the reflexive se complaire à (1556) or dans, en (1580) is still in common use, sometimes with a note of vanity or self-indulgence.^[3][7][8] Its derivative complaisant (1556) and the noun complaisance (about 1370, from Christian Latin complacentia) share this idea of finding pleasure in something.^[3][4]

Timeline

• c. 1120 – Isolated first record, in the Oxford Psalter.^[2]
• c. 1370 – The related noun complaisance appears.^[3][4]
• 1373 – The verb reappears in an ordinance on the Admiralty.^[7][4]
• 1556 – Se complaire à and the adjective complaisant.^[2][3]
• 1580 – Se complaire dans, in Montaigne.^[3][7]

Meanings

Verb

1. (literary, transitive indirect) Complaire à quelqu'un: to please someone by adapting to their tastes, moods or wishes: Elle ne cherchait qu'à complaire à sa tante.^[8][7][2]
2. (reflexive) Se complaire à or dans: to take pleasure or satisfaction in something;^[8][7][1] (derogatory) to wallow in it: Il se complaît dans sa paresse.^[8][7][1]

Word family

• complaisant

Related words

• plaire
• complaisance
• Latin complaceō

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c d e f Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
5. ^ a b Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ a b Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
7. ^ a b c d e f g Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
8. ^ a b c d Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert