Library / English Dictionary

COMPLIMENT

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

A remark (or act) expressing praise and admiration

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("compliment" is a kind of...):

congratulations; extolment; kudos; praise (an expression of approval and commendation)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "compliment"):

trade-last (a compliment that I heard about you that I offer to trade for a compliment you have heard about me)

flattery (excessive or insincere praise)

fulsomeness; smarm; unction (excessive but superficial compliments given with affected charm)

Derivation:

compliment (say something to someone that expresses praise)

complimentary (conveying or resembling a compliment)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Say something to someone that expresses praise

Example:

He complimented her on her last physics paper

Synonyms:

compliment; congratulate

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "compliment" is one way to...):

praise (express approval of)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Somebody ----s somebody PP

Derivation:

compliment (a remark (or act) expressing praise and admiration)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Express respect or esteem for

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "compliment" is one way to...):

greet (send greetings to)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Credits

 Context examples: 

When I was presented to him, he gave me a close embrace, a compliment I could well have excused.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

Elinor scolded him, harshly as ladies always scold the imprudence which compliments themselves, for having spent so much time with them at Norland, when he must have felt his own inconstancy.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

A lavender-water bath may restore me to a condition in which I may fitly pay my compliments to a lady.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I've read it not once, but twice and three times—the highest compliment I can pay you.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

I must compliment you, Mr. Baynes, upon your attention to detail in your examination of it.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Its contents ran thus: Dr. Jekyll presents his compliments to Messrs. Maw.

(The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

Also, treat yourself to several new items for your wardrobe because with Venus in Pisces, your selections will surely win you compliments.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the compliments of the season.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

It’s a bad compliment to me that you can’t be contented with my society for so short a time.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

So a big pigeon pie was brought in and put on a sidetable, and I made a hearty supper, for I was as hungry as a hawk, while Mr. Dance was further complimented and at last dismissed.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)