comply

Meaning

Verb

Origin

  • From Italian complire, Catalan complir ("to complete, fulfil; to carry out"), Spanish cumplir ("to complete, fulfil"), from Latin complēre, from compleō, from com- (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *ḱóm ("beside, near; by, with")) + pleō (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *pleh₁- ("to fill")).
  • More likely from Old French compli, past participle of complir "to accomplish, fulfill, carry out," from Vulgar Latin *complire, from Latin complere "to fill up," transferred to "fulfill, finish (a task)," from com-, here probably as an intensive prefix (see com-), + plere "to fill" (from PIE root *pele- (1) "to fill")https://www.etymonline.com/word/comply. The word is very close to the French verb "complaire" which means to satisfy or to please. The word is also cognate with Old French complir ("to accomplish, complete; to do") (modern French accomplir ("to accomplish, achieve")). Compare complete, compliment.

Modern English dictionary

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