Complement v.

[f. prec.]

  I.  Extant sense.

  1.  trans. To make complete or perfect, to supply what is wanting; to form the complement to.

1641.  Baker, Chron. (1679), 38/1. He never stayed to complement the disaster.

1865.  Reader, No. 143. 337/2. Information … from other documents to complement these.

1875.  Stubbs, Const. Hist., I. ii. 36. The three principles … complement and complicate each other’s action.

1879.  Farrar, St. Paul, II. App. 614. Truths which complement but do not contradict each other.

  II.  Obsolete senses, afterwards expressed by COMPLIMENT v.

  † 2.  intr. To employ ceremonies of formal courtesy, to exchange formal courtesies; to bow. Obs. (= COMPLIMENT, sense 1.)

1612.  Beaum. & Fl., Coxcomb, I. ii. (1647), 24. Serv. Mistris there are 2 Gentlemen. Mar. Where? Serv. Complementing who should enter first.

1642.  Bp. Reynolds, Israel’s Petit., 3. Complementing with God, and then forsaking him.

1644.  Milton, Areop. (Arb.), 40. Sometimes 5 Imprimaturs … in the Piatza of one Title-page, complementing and ducking each to other with their shav’n reverences.

1658.  Sir Aston Cockain, Trappolin, III. i. Complement with me no more than I complement with you.

1697.  Mountfort, Faustus, I. end. Here they Complement who shall go first.

  † b.  So To complement it. Obs.

1617.  Bp. Andrewes, 96 Sermons (1661), 651. As if we could complement it with God, with face and phrases, as with men we do.

1624.  D. Cawdrey, Humilitie Saints Liverie, 9. Thus shall you haue a man shew himselfe affable, and courteous, and officious, euen to admiration; Complement it to the ground, lay his hands vnder your feet, when his heart picks matter of vaine-glory out of this abasement.

  † 3.  trans. ‘To sooth with acts or expressions of respect; to flatter; to praise:’ see COMPLIMENT, sense 2. Obs.

1649.  Fuller, Just Man’s Fun., 11. Rabshakeh pretended a Commission from God … and complements blasphemie.

1654.  Jer. Taylor, Real Pres., 26. He cannot escape the Inquisition unlesse he complement the Church, and with a civility tell her that she knows better.

1661.  A. Marvell, Corresp., Lett. 21, II. 55. Monsieur Du Plessis … is come ouer from them to complement his Majesty.

1700.  Sir W. Calverley, Note-bk. (Surtees), 92. Sir John sent to complement them for their kindness.

1710.  Life Bp. Stillingfleet, 84. Ready … to strike with the Deists, to complement and cajole them.

1711.  Hearne, Collect., III. 205. He complements me for my Ed. (most accurate Edition he calls it) of Leland’s Itin.

  b.  To complement away, out of: see COMPLIMENT v. 2 b.

1640.  Nabbes, Bride, III. ii. As if the enterteinment … were not chargeable enough, but you must complement away wine and sweet meats.

1645.  Fuller, Good Th. in Bad T. Hist. Appl., vi. 101. Cæsar complemented his life away. Ibid. (1655), Ch. Hist. VI. iii. 308. King Henry his smiles complemented the former out of their Houses.

1697.  Collier, Ess. Mor. Subj., I. (1709), 231. Lest Church-Men should Complement away the Usefulness and Authority of their Calling; they would do well to decline superlative Observance.

1715.  M. Davies, Athen. Brit., I. 129. To shorten disputes … and so complement them out of their Heresies.

  † 4.  To complement (a person) with (something): to present him with it as a mark of courtesy. Obs. (Now COMPLIMENT, sense 4.)

1697.  Dampier, Voy. (1698), I. xii. 328. He may be … complemented … with Tobacco and Betel-nut.

1732.  in L’pool Munic. Rec. (1886), II. 92. That the Right Hon^ble Hugh Lord Willoughby … be complemented with his freedom.

  Hence Complementing vbl. sb. and ppl. a. = COMPLIMENTING.

1626.  W. Sclater, Expos. 2 Thess. (1629), 74. All Complementings with Idolaters.

1649.  Milton, Eikon., xx. (1851), 481. God, who stood neerer then hee for complementing minded, writ down those words.

1658.  Whole Duty Man, v. § 22. 47. It’s but a kind of formal complementing.

1704.  J. Blair, in W. S. Perry, Hist. Coll. Amer. Col. Ch., I. 94. They had refused to sign a complementing address.