comply

comply
\ \ [17] Like accomplish, complete, complement, and compliment, comply comes from Latin complērefill up, finish’. It was originally acquired in the 14th century, via Old French complire, but does not seem to have survived, and the sudden explosion in its use in the early 17th century represents a new borrowing, from Italian complire. Italian had the word from Spanish cumplir, in which the meaning ‘be courteous’ had developed. This passed into English, and though long defunct, seems to have been the basis of the modern English sense ‘be amenable or obedient’. Compliant [17] is an English development.
\ \ Cf.COMPLETE, COMPLIANT, COMPLIMENT

Word origins - 2ed. . 2005.

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  • comply — com‧ply [kəmˈplaɪ] verb complied PTandPP [intransitive] to obey a law or rule, or to keep an agreement: comply with • the high costs of upgrading aging mills to comply with environmental regulations * * * comply UK US /kəmˈplaɪ/ verb [I] ► LAW …   Financial and business terms

  • comply — comply, conform The two verbs share the notion of acting in accordance with a wish, command, rule, or guideline. The typical patterns are comply with and conform to. Both are also used absolutely, with a difference of implication: one complies by …   Modern English usage

  • Comply — Com*ply (k[o^]m*pl[imac] ), v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Complied}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Complying}.] [Perh. formed fr. compliment, influenced by ply, pliant, which are of different origin: cf. It. complire to compliment, finish, suit. See {Compliment},… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Comply — Com*ply , v. t. [See {comply}, v. i.] 1. To fulfill; to accomplish. [Obs.] Chapman. [1913 Webster] 2. [Cf. L. complicare to fold up. See {Ply}.] To infold; to embrace. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] Seemed to comply, Cloudlike, the daintie deitie. Herrick …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • comply — I verb abide by, accede to, accept, accommodate, acknowledge, acquiesce in, adhere to, agree with, assent to, attend to orders, be faithful to, be willing, carry into effect, carry into execution, carry out, cease resistance, complete, concedere …   Law dictionary

  • comply — ► VERB (complies, complied) (often comply with) 1) act in accordance with a wish or command. 2) meet specified standards. ORIGIN Latin complere fulfil, fill up …   English terms dictionary

  • comply — early 14c., to fulfill, carry out, from O.Fr. compli, pp. of complir to accomplish, fulfill, carry out, from V.L. *complire, from L. complere to fill up (see COMPLETE (Cf. complete)). Meaning influenced by PLY (Cf. ply). Sense of to consent began …   Etymology dictionary

  • comply — *obey, mind Analogous words: accede, consent, agree, acquiesce (see ASSENT): *yield, submit, defer, bow Antonyms: command, enjoin Contrasted words: *resist, withstand: thwart, balk, *frustrate …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • comply — [v] abide by, follow agreement or instructions accede, accord, acquiesce, adhere to, agree to, cave in, come around, conform to, consent to, cry uncle*, defer, discharge, ditto*, don’t make waves*, don’t rock the boat*, fit in, fold, fulfill,… …   New thesaurus

  • comply — [kəm plī′] vi. complied, complying [ME complien < OFr complir < L complere: see COMPLETE] to act in accordance (with a request, order, rule, etc.) …   English World dictionary

  • comply — 01. Anyone who does not [comply] with these regulations will be asked to leave. 02. Our neighbors have been ordered by the city to clean up their yard, but so far they seem unwilling to [comply]. 03. The U.N. has sent a mission to Iraq to verify… …   Grammatical examples in English

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