Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
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Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Com-plĕx′i-ty, n. p. 262The state of being complex; intricacy; entanglement. Men are every now and then put by complexity of human affairs into strange situations. Burke.Cŏm'plex-ly, adv. p. 262In a complex manner; not simply.Cŏm'plex-ness, n. p. 262The state of being complex; complexity. A. Smith.Com·plēx'ūre, n. p. 262The involution or complication of one thing with others. Montaigne.Com-plēx'us, n. p. 262(Anat.) A long, broad muscle situated along the back part and side of the neck.Com-pli'a-ble, a. p. 262Inclined to comply or yield; compliant. The Jews . . . had made their religion compliable, and accommodated to their passion. Jortin.Com-pliʹance, n. p. 262The act of complying; a yielding, as to a request, wish, desire, demand, or proposal; concession; submission. Let the king meet compliance in your looks, A free and ready yielding to his wishes.…Com-pli'ant, a. p. 262Yielding; bending; pliant. “The compliant boughs.” Milton. 2. Yielding to request or desire; civil; obliging.Com-pli'ant-ly, adv. p. 262In a yielding manner.Com'pli-ca-cy, n. p. 262A state of being complex or intricate. Mitford.Cŏm'pli-cāte, v. t. p. 262To fold or twist together; to interweave. Nor can his complicated sinews fail. Young. 2. To render complex; to involve. Avarice and luxury very often become one complicated principle of action.…Cŏm'pli-cate, a. p. 262Composed of two or more parts united; complex; complicated. Though the particular actions of war are complicate in fact, yet they are separate and distinct in right. Bacon. 2. (Bot.) Folded together…Cŏm'pli-cate-ly, adv. p. 262In a complex manner.Cŏm'pli-cate-ness, n. p. 262The state of being complicate; involution; intricacy; perplexity. Hale.Cŏm'/pli-cā'tion, n. p. 262Intricate or confused blending of parts; entanglement; the act or state of being involved; complexity. “A complication of diseases.” Macaulay. Through and beyond these dark complications of the…Cŏm'pli-cā'tive, a. p. 262Tending or adapted to involve.Cŏm'plĭce, n. p. 262An associate or confederate in some unlawful act or design; an accomplice. [Obs.] “To quell the rebels and their complices.” Shak.Com-pliç'i-ty, n. p. 262The state or condition of being a complice or accomplice.Com-pli'er, n. p. 262One who complies, yields, or obeys; one of an easy, yielding temper. Swift.Cŏm'pli-ment, n. p. 262A manifestation, by word or act, of approbation, regard, or admiration; delicate flattery; as, to send one's compliments to a friend. Tedious waste of time to sit and hear So many hollow compliments.…Cŏm'pli-ment, v. t. p. 262To praise, flatter, or gratify, by expressions of approbation, respect, or congratulation. Monarchs should their inward soul disguise; . . . By ignominious arts, for servile ends, Should compliment…Cŏm'pli-ment, v. i. p. 262To pass compliments; to use conventional expressions of respect. I make the interlocutors, upon occasion, compliment with one another. Boyle.Cŏm'pli-mĕnt'al, a. p. 262Expressive of, or implying, compliments. Languages grow rich and abundant in complimental phrases, and such froth. Hutton.Cŏm'pli-mĕnt'al-ly, adv. p. 262In the nature of a compliment; by way of civility or ceremony. Broome.Cōm'pli-mĕnt'al-ness, n. p. 262The quality of being complimental. [Obs.] Hammond.Cōm'pli-mĕnt'ā-ry, a. p. 262Expressive of regard or praise. “Complimentary addresses.” Prescott. Syn.—Complimental; gratulatory; congratulatory; flattering.Cŏm'pli-mĕnt'a-tīve, a. p. 263Expressing compliments; complimentary. [Rare.]Cōm'pli-mēnt'er, n. p. 263One who compliments; one given to compliments; a flatterer. Johnson.Cōm'pline or Cōm'plin, n. p. 263(Eccl.) The last division of the Roman Catholic breviary; the last prayer at night, to be recited after sunset. The custom of godly men hath been to shut up the evening with a compline of prayer at…Cŏm'plish, v. t. p. 263To accomplish. [Obs.] Spenser.Com-plōre', v. i. p. 263To make lamentation together. [Obs.]Cŏm'plot, n. p. 263A plotting together; a confederacy in some evil design; a conspiracy. I know their complot is to have my life. Shak.Com-plŏt', v. t. & i. p. 263To plot together; to conspire; to join in a secret design, generally criminal. We find them complotting together, and contriving a new scene of miseries to the Trojans. Pope.Com-plot'ment, n. p. 263A plotting together; conspiracy. [Rare.] King.Com-plŏt'ter, n. p. 263One joined in a plot; a conspirator. Dryden.Com-plŏt'ting-ly, adv. p. 263By complotting.Cŏm'plu-tĕn'sian, a. p. 263Of, or pertaining to, the polyglot edition of the Bible published at Complutum, or Alcala, in Spain, in 1522, by Cardinal Ximenes. In the midst of his pressing duties, Ximenes found time for the…Com-plȳ', v. i. p. 263To yield assent; to accord, agree, or acquiesce; to adapt one's self; to consent or conform; — usually followed by with. Yet this be sure, in nothing to comply, Scandalous or forbidden in our laws.…Com-pōne', v. t. p. 263To compose; to settle. [Obs.] “A good pretense for composing peace between princes.” Strype.Com-pōne', a. p. 263See COMPONY.Com-pō'nent, a. p. 263Serving or helping to form; composing; constituting. “The component parts of natural bodies.” Newton.Com-pō'nent, n. p. 263A constituent part. Digby.Com-pō'ny or Com-pōne', a. p. 263(Her.) Made up of a row of squares, consisting of metals and colors alternately; — said of a bordure, bend, or other ordinary. Compony counter compony (Her.), arranged similarly in two rows.Com-pōrt', v. i. p. 263To bear or put up; as, to comport with an injury. [Obs.] Barrow. 2. To agree; to accord; to suit; — sometimes followed by with. “To see how their behavior herein [eating the Lord’s supper] comported…Com-pōrt', v. t. p. 263To bear; to endure. [Obs.] The malcontented sort That never can the present state comport. Daniel. ☞ “A Gallic signification, not adopted among us.” Johnson. 2. To behave; to conduct; — with a…Cōm'pōrt, n. p. 263(Formerly accented on the second syllable.) [O. Fr. & Pr. comport, Sp. comporte, It. comporto. See supra.] Manner of acting; behavior; conduct. I knew them well, and marked their rude comport. Dryden.Com-pōrt'a-ble, a. p. 263Suitable; consistent. “Some comfortable method.” Wotton.Com-pōrt'ançe, n. p. 263Behavior; deportment. [Obs.] Goodly comportance they each to other bear. Spenser.Cŏm'por-tā'tion, n. p. 263An assemblage. [Obs.] Bp. Richardson.Com-pōrt'ment, n. p. 263Manner of acting; behavior; demeanor. [Obs.] “A graceful comportment of their bodies.” Cowley.Com-pōse′, v. t. p. 263To form by uniting two or more things, parts, or individuals; to put together; to make up. Zeal ought to be composed of the highest degrees of all pious affections. Spratt. 2. To be combined so as to…Com-pōsed', p. a. p. 263Free from agitation; calm; sedate; quiet; tranquil. The Mantuan there in sober triumph sat, Composed his posture, and his look sedate. Pope.Com-pōs'ed-ly, adv. p. 263In a composed manner; calmly.Com-pōs'ed-ness, n. p. 263A state of being composed; calmness; sedateness; tranquillity. Wilkins.Com-pōs'er, n. p. 263One who composes; an author; especially, an author of a piece of music. If the thoughts of such authors have nothing in them, they at least . . . show an honest industry and a good intention in the…Com-pōs'ing-frāme, n. p. 263(Print.) A printer’s elevated working frame, having the type-cases on it.Com-pōs'ing-rule, n. p. 263(Print.) A thin slip of brass or steel, laid by printers on the composing-stick in arranging the type;—called also setting-rule.Com·pōs'ing-stick, n. p. 263(Print.) A frame of adjustable width, on which types are composed, or arranged in their proper order for printing.Com-pōs'ite, a. p. 263Made up of distinct parts or elements; compounded; as, a composite language. Happiness, like air and water . . . is composite. Landor. 2. (Arch.) Belonging to a certain order of architecture, which…Com-pŏsĭte, n. p. 263That which is made up of parts; composition; combination; as, to resolve a composite into its matter and form. Harris.