compliment French · revision 15751

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1604, Cardinal Du Perron|origins=la compleō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /kɔ̃.pli.mɑ̃/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''compliment''' ''m'' (plural compliments)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|it|complimento|t=act or expression of homage]] (1578–1594, Tasso),^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)^(Wiktionary)^(Académie 9)^(FEW|2, 981a) itself from [[es|cumplimiento]], “abundance” in the 13th century and “compliment” in the 16th,^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)^(Wiktionary) derived from [[m|es|cumplir|t=to fulfil]], from [[la|compleō|t=to fill up]], the source of [[accomplir]].^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)^(GLLF 1989) The Spanish sense comes from “cumplir con alguien” “to perform the required courtesies towards someone”.^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(Grand Robert 2005) Bloch and Wartburg, the Grand Robert and the GLLF take the French word straight from Spanish; a “complimento” of 1566 is an adaptation of the Spanish word.^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(GLLF 1989)^(TLFi)

+

+ It is a doublet of [[complément]].^(Wiktionary)^(Littré 1873)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ In a letter of Cardinal Du Perron written from Rome (1604) a ''compliment'' is a courtesy visit paid to an official personage.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ From the act, the word passed to the words: praise addressed to someone (Régnier, 1608).^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992) It was much used in the polite society of the classical period and the 19th century, for formal speeches to persons of rank, messages of congratulation or condolence and the little speech a child recites for a family feast.^(DHLF 1992)^(Littré 1873)^(GLLF 1989) With the simplifying of manners it has lost weight, as the ironic ''débiter son compliment'' shows^(DHLF 1992)^(Petit Robert 2007); ''mes compliments !'' “congratulations!” is often ironic too.^(DHLF 1992)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+

+ ''Complimenter'' was presented as a new word in 1634, and ''complimenteur'' is from 1622–1623.^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1566 – ''Complimento'' “courtesy visit”, from Spanish.^(TLFi)

+ * 1578–1594 – Italian ''complimento'' (Tasso).^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 1604 – A courtesy visit (Du Perron).^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 1608 – Words of praise (Régnier).^(TLFi)^(GLLF 1989)

+ * 1622 – ''Complimenteur''.^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+ * 1634 – ''Complimenter''.^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|compliment]], words of praise: ''faire des compliments à quelqu'un''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Larousse)

+ # ''Mes compliments !'': congratulations! (often ironic).^(Petit Robert 2007)

+ # A formula of [[m|en|courtesy]]: ''faites mes compliments à votre mère''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Larousse)

+ # A short speech of good wishes, as one recited by a child.^(Larousse)^(Littré 1873)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[complimenter]]

+ * [[complimenteur]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[complément]]

+ * [[accomplir]]

+ * [[en|compliment]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}