See Also: complain(dictionary)
complain(dictionary)

complain (iou)



complain verb & noun. LME.
[Old & mod. French complaign- pres. stem of complaindre, from Proto-Romance (medieval Latin) complangere, from Latin COM- + plangere lament: cf. PLAIN verb.]
A. verb.
verb trans. Bewail, lament. LME-E18.
verb intrans. & refl. Give expression to sorrow. LME-M17.
verb intrans. & refl. Express dissatisfaction. (Foll. by about, (arch.) against, at, of, that, (up)on.) LME.
b. Make a formal statement of a grievance; lodge a complaint, bring a charge. LME.
verb trans. Express dissatisfaction with. Only in 16.
verb intrans. & refl. Suffer physically, be unwell. obsolete exc. dial. E17.
verb intrans. transf. & fig. Emit a mournful sound; (of a mast, rudder, etc.) groan, creak. L17.
With prepositions in specialized senses: complain of announce that one is suffering from (a headache, an illness, etc.); (see also sense 3 above).
b. noun. (A) complaint. Now poet. L15.
complainable adjective (rare) lamentable, to be complained of LME.
complainer noun (a) Law (esp. Scot.) = COMPLAINANT noun 1; (b) a person who complains: LME.
complainingly adverb in a complaining manner, querulously LME.