comply English · revision 10390

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=before 1333|origins=fro complir|origins=la complere}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /kəmˈplaɪ/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English complien, to fulfil, carry out, probably from Old French compli, past participle of complir, to accomplish,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) from Vulgar Latin *complīre, from Latin complēre, to fill up (see [[complete]]).^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) 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]]),^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024) itself from Catalan complir and Spanish cumplir.^(Hoad 1986)^(NODE 1998)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To fulfil, carry out, accomplish: before 1333, in the poems of William of Shoreham;^(Barnhart 1988) the early 14th century in Etymonline.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ To use compliments or observe formalities is from 1602,^(OED 1989) and to be complaisant or agreeable to someone from before 1631.^(OED 1989) To act in accordance with others' wishes or with rules, ''comply with'', is from 1642,^(OED 1989) and the sense consent, submit, is first recorded in 1647–50.^(Barnhart 1988) ''Compliance'' is from 1641, first meaning an act of courtesy.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1333 – to fulfil.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1602 – to observe formalities.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1641 – compliance.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1642 – to comply with.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1650 – to consent.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To act in accordance with a rule, command, request or wish; to [[obey]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(obsolete)'' To be courteous or complaisant.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[compliancy]]

+ * [[complier]]

+ * [[compliant]]

+ * [[compliance]]

+ * [[compliable]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[accomplish]]

+ * [[complete]]

+ * [[compliment]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ In Cheshire dialect, comply meant to fit or coincide.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}