Complement
[KAM-plə-mənt]
Part of speech: noun
Origin: Latin, 14th century
1.
A thing that completes or brings to perfection.
2.
A number or quantity of something, especially that required to make a group complete.
Examples of Complement in a sentence
"Sometimes a pinch of salt is the perfect complement to a sweet recipe."
"The home’s proximity to the lake is a complement to its beautiful view of the mountains."
About Complement
“Complement” is taken directly from the Latin “complēmentum,” meaning “that which fills up or completes.” That word’s past participle, “complētus,” meaning “to be finished,” is the root of the English word “complete.”
Did you Know?
“Complement” is easily confused with its homonym, “compliment,” a noun referring to an expression of praise or admiration, or a verb meaning “to give praise.” Both words are based on the same Latin root, “complēmentum,” meaning “to fill up or complete,” and “complement” remains close to this meaning with its implied completion or perfection. By contrast, in the late 1600s, “compliment” appeared in French and Italian with the specific meaning of completing the courteous actions expected of a well-mannered person. For these reasons, a complement completes, while a compliment expresses politeness.
