comply
Formscomplies, complying, complied
- 1To do what a rule, law, or request says you must do.
Like following the teacher's instructions in class, even when you would rather not.
All drivers must comply with the new speed limit.
She complied with the doctor's orders and rested for a full week.
Similaragree, consent, accede, concede, yield
Oppositeviolate
Note
- 2To finish or carry out a task, promise, or wish.
The servant promised to comply his master's wishes before sunset.
The merchant complied his promise and paid every debt by spring.
Note
- 3To act in a very polite and formal way, with bows and kind words.
The young man complied to every guest at the ball, bowing low each time.
He loved to comply and offer fine words whenever a lady entered the room.
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Less common meaning
- 4To put your arms around someone or something and hold it close.
The mother complied her sleeping child in her arms.
And then a rug of carded wooll, / Which, spunge-like, drinking in the dull / Light of the moon, seem'd to comply, / Cloud-like, the daintie deitie.
1648, Robert Herrick, “Oberon’s Palace”Here, comply means wrap around and hold close, like an embrace.Note
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Origin
It comes from the Latin verb 'compleo', meaning 'to finish, complete, or fulfil', built from 'com-' (showing completeness) and 'pleo' (to fill).