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complaining

 - 5 dictionary results

com⋅plain

  [kuhm-pleyn]
Use complaining in a Sentence
–verb (used without object)
1. to express dissatisfaction, pain, uneasiness, censure, resentment, or grief; find fault: He complained constantly about the noise in the corridor.
2. to tell of one's pains, ailments, etc.: to complain of a backache.
3. to make a formal accusation: If you think you've been swindled, complain to the police.
Origin:
1350–1400; ME compleinen < AF compleign-, s. of compleindre, OF complaindre < VL *complangere, equiv. to L com- com- + plangere to lament; see plaint

Related forms:
com⋅plain⋅a⋅ble, adjective
com⋅plain⋅er, noun
com⋅plain⋅ing⋅ly, adverb

Synonyms:
1. Complain, grumble, growl, whine are terms for expressing dissatisfaction or discomfort. To complain is to protest against or lament a wrong: to complain about high prices. To grumble is to utter ill-natured complaints half to oneself: to grumble about the service. Growl may express more anger than grumble: to growl in reply to a question. To whine is to complain in a meanspirited way, using a nasal tone: to whine like a coward, like a spoiled child.

Antonyms:
1. rejoice.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To complaining
com·plain   (kəm-plān')   
intr.v.   com·plained, com·plain·ing, com·plains

  1. To express feelings of pain, dissatisfaction, or resentment.

  2. To make a formal accusation or bring a formal charge.


[Middle English compleinen, from Old French complaindre, complaign-, from Vulgar Latin *complangere : Latin com-, intensive pref.; see com- + Latin plangere, to lament; see plāk-2 in Indo-European roots.]
com·plain'er n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

complain 
c.1370, from stem of O.Fr. complaindre "to lament," from V.L. *complangere, orig. "to beat the breast," from L. com- intensive prefix + plangere "to strike, beat the breast," from PIE base *plag- "to strike." Older sense of "lament" died out 17c.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: com·plain
Function: intransitive verb
: to make a complaint
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: com·plain
Pronunciation: k&m-'plAn
Function: intransitive verb
: to speak of one's illness or symptoms complaining of weight loss>
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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