Make Your Point > Archived Issues > COMPLEMENT
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pronounce
COMPLEMENT:
Say it "KOM pluh ment."
To hear it, click here.
connect this word to others:
As we've noticed before, in Latin, plere means "to fill."
Plere gave us a whole family of English words, including supply and supplement; comply, complete, and complement; deplete; implement, __plete (meaning "totally filled"); and __plet___ (meaning "a piece of verbal filler, or a curse word").
Could you recall those last two?
(To reveal any word with blanks, give it a click.)
definition:
"Complement" is very closely related to "complete."
It has Latin bits meaning "something that completes," or more literally, "something that fills all the way."
A complement is a part of something that, once you add it on, makes the whole thing complete or perfect.
A complement can also be a totally full set of things.
The word "complement" has tons of specific definitions in fields like math, music, grammar, and biochemistry, but the general meaning is the same: a complement is a complete set, or a piece that finishes off a complete set.
And, to complement something is to make it complete: to be exactly the right thing that, when added on, makes something complete or perfect.
grammatical bits:
Part of speech:
Both a noun (the countable kind: "It's a perfect complement") and a verb ("They complement each other perfectly").
Other forms:
Complements; complemented, complementing.
The adjective is "complementary:" "They picked a palette of complementary colors."
What about "compliment"? And "complimentary"?
A compliment is a kind comment, or a little gift. Interestingly (or confusingly), the word "compliment" traces back to the exact same Latin roots that "complement" does. It's all the same notion of completing something, like a social ritual. It just so happened that "compliment" picked up the slightly different spelling as it filtered through Italian and French on its way to English.
If you write "compliment" when you meant "complement," or vice versa, it's an error. A very minor, very understandable error!
"Complimentary," the adjective for "compliment," can mean either "free" ("I love the complimentary peanuts") or "offering kind comments" ("Wow, what a complimentary review").
how to use it:
Pick the clear, common, precise word "complement" to strike a positive tone as you describe parts and pieces that fit into a wonderful whole.
Say that something has a full complement of things: "She opened her makeup case, revealing a full complement of foundations and shadows."
Or, say that one thing (or person) is the complement of another: "She loves to talk; he loves to listen: they're the perfect complement of each other."
Or, say that one thing (or person) complements another: "Their approach complements ours precisely." "That sweater perfectly complements his eyes."
You don't have to use a word like "full," "perfect," or "precisely." Those just heighten the positive tone.
examples:
"These species have, like all living things, a full complement of parasites, microbes, viruses, and insect predators to shorten and immiserate their lives."
— Charles C. Mann, 1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus, 2005
"'Don't worry none,' she whispered, and the honey in her words complemented the sundown spilling on the lake."
— Toni Morrison, The Bluest Eye, 1970
has this page helped you understand "complement"?
study it:
Explain the meaning of "complement" without saying "fulfill" or "round out."
try it out:
In an episode of Boy Meets World, Jack wants to date Jill because they're exactly alike, but Jill would rather date someone who complements her:
Jill: "Besides, why would we want to be with someone exactly like ourselves? Nobody makes a sandwich out of jelly and jelly. That would be tedious and redundant."
Jack: (Mesmerized) "We have the same vocabulary."
Talk about whether you agree more with Jack or Jill. Is it more important to have a lot in common with someone, or more important to complement each other in many ways? Maybe it's a complete toss-up?
before you review, play:
Try to spend 20 seconds or more on the game below. Don’t skip straight to the review—first, let your working memory empty out.
Our game for this month is Obits Tidbits!
Check out a tidbit from the obituary of an extraordinary person, and see if you can name who it was. To see the answer, scroll all the way down.
From the New York Times: "'When I go to my [book signings]... I'm the most boring person there. Everybody else is dripping with velvet and lace, and bringing me dead roses wrapped in leather handcuffs, and I love it.'"
If you need some hints, highlight the hidden white text below.
This obituary was published on… December 12th, 2021
This person's initials are… A. R.
review this word:
A. RUDE, INSULTING, and DEROGATORY.
B. ERRING, BLUNDERING, and DELINQUENT.
C. UNNECESSARY, NONESSENTIAL, and EXTRANEOUS.
2.
When the moon is "in her complement," wrote John Edwin Cussans, she is "_____."
A. a sliver of silver
B. clouded with grief
C. full-faced and shining
a final word:
I hope you're enjoying Make Your Point. It's made with love. I'm Liesl Johnson, a reading and writing tutor on a mission to explore, illuminate, and celebrate words.
From my blog:
On vocabulary...
36 ways to study words.
Why we forget words, & how to remember them.
How to use sophisticated words without being awkward.
On writing...
How to improve any sentence.
How to motivate our kids to write.
How to stop procrastinating and start writing.
How to bulk up your writing when you have to meet a word count.
From my heart: a profound thanks to the generous patrons, donors, and sponsors that make it possible for me to write these emails. If you'd like to be a patron or a donor, please click here. If you'd like to be a sponsor and include your ad in an issue, please contact me at Liesl@HiloTutor.com.
A disclaimer: When I write definitions, I use plain language and stick to the words' common, useful applications. If you're interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words, I encourage you to check a dictionary. Also, because I'm American, I stick to American English when I share words' meanings, usage, and pronunciations; these elements sometimes vary across world Englishes.
As we've noticed before, in Latin, plere means "to fill."
"Complement" is very closely related to "complete."
Part of speech:
Pick the clear, common, precise word "complement" to strike a positive tone as you describe parts and pieces that fit into a wonderful whole.
"These species have, like all living things, a full complement of parasites, microbes, viruses, and insect predators to shorten and immiserate their lives."
Explain the meaning of "complement" without saying "fulfill" or "round out."
In an episode of Boy Meets World, Jack wants to date Jill because they're exactly alike, but Jill would rather date someone who complements her:
Try to spend 20 seconds or more on the game below. Don’t skip straight to the review—first, let your working memory empty out.
I hope you're enjoying Make Your Point. It's made with love. I'm Liesl Johnson, a reading and writing tutor on a mission to explore, illuminate, and celebrate words. |