• n. 恭维；称赞；问候；致意；道贺
• vt. 恭维；称赞

词源同complement, 补足，完成。原义指完成礼仪，表达尊重，多用于客套性的用语。词义与complement产生了完全的差别。

compliment

compliment: [17] Compliment and complement, so often confused, are in effect doublets. They come from the same ultimate source, Latin complēmentum, a noun derived from complēre ‘fill up, finish’ (source of English complete and accomplish). English borrowed complement direct from Latin in the 14th century in the sense ‘fulfilment, accomplishment’, and by the 16th century this had developed the more specific metaphorical meaning ‘fulfilment of the obligation of politeness’ – hence ‘polite words of praise’.

But then in the 17th century came competition in the form of compliment, also meaning ‘polite words of praise’. This also came from Latin complēmentum, but along a circuitous route via Vulgar Latin *complimentum, Spanish cumplimiento, and French compliment. It gradually took over from complement in this ‘flattering’ sense, while complement went on to develop its leading current meaning, ‘counterpart’, in the 19th century.
=> accomplish, complement, complete, comply, expletive, plenary, plenty

compliment (n.)

"An act, or expression of civility, usually understood to include some hypocrisy, and to mean less than it declares" [Johnson], 1570s, complement, via French compliment (17c.), from Italian complimento "expression of respect and civility," from Vulgar Latin *complire, for Latin complere "to complete" (see complete (adj.)), via notion of "complete the obligations of politeness." Same word as complement but by a different etymological route; differentiated by spelling after 1650.

compliment (v.)

1610s, from French complimenter, from compliment (see compliment (n.)). Related: Complimented; complimenting.

1. We consider it a compliment to be called "conservative"

我们认为被称作“保守分子”是对我们的一种赞赏。

来自柯林斯例句

2. Saying she's improved comes over as a backhanded compliment.

说她进步了听起来倒像是一种讽刺。

来自柯林斯例句

3. His lips curved up in the obligatory smile, acknowledging the compliment.

他嘴边礼节性地挤出一个微笑，以示对称赞致谢。

来自柯林斯例句

4. She may be fishing for a compliment and welcome your reassurance.

她也许是在拐弯抹角地想获得称赞，希望得到你的肯定。

来自柯林斯例句

5. Laura acknowledged this compliment with a negligent wave of her left hand.

劳拉随意挥了挥左手算是听到了这个赞扬。

来自柯林斯例句