complain English · revision 6252

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1370|origins=la plango}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /kəmˈpleɪn/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English compleinen, [[bor|fro|complaindre|alt=complaign-|t=to lament]], the stem of complaindre,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from Vulgar Latin [[m|la-vul|*complangere|t=to beat the breast]], from [[m|la|com-]], intensive, and [[m|la|plango|alt=plangere|t=to strike, lament]] (see [[plaint]]),^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from PIE [[ine-pro|*pleh₂k-|alt=*plak-|t=to strike]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To find fault or accuse: about 1370, in Chaucer, in Barnhart;^(Barnhart 1988) to lament or bewail, about 1374 in the OED and about 1375 in Barnhart.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Etymonline traces the development from expressing suffering to expressing a grievance or blame.^(Etymonline) The transitive sense, to lament something, died out in the 17th century.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) Making a formal accusation to an authority is from the late 14th century.^(Etymonline) To report pain or illness, as in ''complain of headaches'', is from 1607,^(OED 1989) and, chiefly in poetry, to make a mournful sound from the 1690s.^(Etymonline) [[complaint|alt=Complaint]] is from about 1380.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1370 – to find fault.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1374 – to lament.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1607 – to report pain or illness.^(OED 1989)

+ * 17th century – the transitive sense, to lament, dies out.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To express dissatisfaction or annoyance; to [[grumble]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To make a formal accusation or report of a wrong.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To report a pain or illness: ''complain of a headache''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[complainer]]

+ * [[complainingly]]

+ * [[complainable]]

+ * [[complainant]]

+ * [[uncomplained]]

+ * [[uncomplaining]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[complaint]]

+ * [[plaint]]

+ * [[plaintive]]

+ * [[plaintiff]]

+ * [[plankton]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}