complain

complain
complainable, adj.complainer, n.complainingly, adv.
/keuhm playn"/, v.i.
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.
[1350-1400; ME compleinen < AF compleign-, s. of compleindre, OF complaindre < VL *complangere, equiv. to L com- COM- + plangere to lament; see PLAINT]
Syn. 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.
Ant. 1. rejoice.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • complain — (v.) late 14c., find fault, lament, from stem of O.Fr. complaindre to lament (12c.), from V.L. *complangere, originally to beat the breast, from L. com , intensive prefix (see COM (Cf. com )), + plangere to strike, beat the breast (see PLAGUE (Cf …   Etymology dictionary

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  • complain — [kəm plān′] vi. [ME compleinen < OFr complaindre < VL * complangere, orig., to beat the breast < L com , intens. + plangere, to strike: see PLAINT] 1. to claim or express pain, displeasure, etc. 2. to find fault; declare annoyance 3. to… …   English World dictionary

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