WOD
Word of the Day for Wednesday April 6, 2005
complement \KOM-pluh-muhnt\, noun:
1. Something that fills up or completes.
2. The quantity or number required to make up a whole or to
make something complete.
3. One of two parts that complete a whole or mutually complete
each other; a counterpart.
transitive verb:
To supply what is lacking; to serve as a complement to; to
supplement.
He was four years older than Lewis, whom he had once
commanded in the army; less formally educated, but with
more practical experience and a steadier yet more outgoing
personality -- a friend, but also a perfect complement in
both training and temperament to the man who was inviting
Clark to make history with him.
--Dayton Duncan, [1]Lewis & Clark
There was also a tennis court, a riding stable, a five-car
garage, and a full complement of servants.
--Carol Felsenthal, [2]Citizen Newhouse
The two points of view are not contradictory; they
complement each other.
--Feançoise Gilot, "The Maid Was Ugly, the Meals Were
Bad...," [3]New York Times, October 7, 1970
Smart, athletic, blond, with a "bubbly" -- that's the word
Ed uses to describe Sue when she's not around --
personality that complements his perpetually calm outlook.
--Martin Dugard, [4]Knockdown
The wine complemented the food perfectly.
--Mary Sheepshanks, [5]Picking Up the Pieces
_________________________________________________________
Complement is from Latin complementum, from complere, "to fill
up," from com- (intensive prefix) + plere, "to fill."
Usage note: Complement and compliment ("an expression of
admiration or praise") are sometimes confused because they are
pronounced the same. A good way to remember which is which is
to make a connection between the spelling of complement and
complete.
complement \KOM-pluh-muhnt\, noun:
1. Something that fills up or completes.
2. The quantity or number required to make up a whole or to
make something complete.
3. One of two parts that complete a whole or mutually complete
each other; a counterpart.
transitive verb:
To supply what is lacking; to serve as a complement to; to
supplement.
He was four years older than Lewis, whom he had once
commanded in the army; less formally educated, but with
more practical experience and a steadier yet more outgoing
personality -- a friend, but also a perfect complement in
both training and temperament to the man who was inviting
Clark to make history with him.
--Dayton Duncan, [1]Lewis & Clark
There was also a tennis court, a riding stable, a five-car
garage, and a full complement of servants.
--Carol Felsenthal, [2]Citizen Newhouse
The two points of view are not contradictory; they
complement each other.
--Feançoise Gilot, "The Maid Was Ugly, the Meals Were
Bad...," [3]New York Times, October 7, 1970
Smart, athletic, blond, with a "bubbly" -- that's the word
Ed uses to describe Sue when she's not around --
personality that complements his perpetually calm outlook.
--Martin Dugard, [4]Knockdown
The wine complemented the food perfectly.
--Mary Sheepshanks, [5]Picking Up the Pieces
_________________________________________________________
Complement is from Latin complementum, from complere, "to fill
up," from com- (intensive prefix) + plere, "to fill."
Usage note: Complement and compliment ("an expression of
admiration or praise") are sometimes confused because they are
pronounced the same. A good way to remember which is which is
to make a connection between the spelling of complement and
complete.