▪ I. comply, v.1
(kəmˈplaɪ)
Also 7 -ie.
[Appears first about 1600. In sense 1, it answers to L. complēre to fill up, fulfil, accomplish, complete. This verb became in Romanic complīre, whence It. compire, compiere, Pr. and OF. complir (see complish), all in the original sense. But in OCat. complir or Sp. cumplir, the sense underwent the development ‘to fill up, make up what is wanting, satisfy, satisfy the requirements or forms of courtesy’ = comply with, in sense 2 below. In this latter sense, complire appears to have been adopted in 16th c. Italian, by the side of the native compire in the original sense; and the It. was evidently the immediate source of our sense 2. (In the same way the OCat. or Sp. form and sense of the derivative n. complimento, complimiento, was the source of It. complimento, and so of the 16th c. F. compliment, and 17th c. Eng. compliment.) As to the form of comply cf. supply (L. supplē-re, It. supplī-re, OF. soupley-er (15th c. suppleyer, suppléer), late ME. sowplé, 15th c. supple, supplie, supply. On the model of this, and with the same relation of form to L. complēre, It. complire, that supply bore to supplēre, supplire, but without the same antecedent history, comply appears to have come into use in the end of the 16th c. (OF. complir was by that time obsolete.) In the sense-development in English there has been a tendency to association with ply, Fr. plier, L. plicāre to bend, so as to make ‘bending to the will of another’ a more prominent part of the notion: cf. esp. compliant.]
I. † 1. trans. To fulfil, accomplish. Obs. rare.
| 1604 Shakes. Oth. i. iii. 264, I..beg it not To please the pallate of my Appetite: Nor to comply with heat the yong affects In my defunct and proper satisfaction. a 1634 ? Chapman Rev. Honour ii. i, Gentle Abrahen, I am grieved my power cannot comply my promise. |
II. To be complaisant, accommodating, compliant.
Mostly intr., const. with; to comply with is equivalent to a transitive verb, and has the indirect passive, to be complied with. But the absolute use is also frequent.
† 2. intr. ‘To use compliments, or ceremonies, or kind offices’ (Florio); to observe the formalities of courtesy and politeness; to ‘do the civil or polite’ (with any one) [= It. complire con alcuno, Sp. cumplir con alguno]. Obs.
| 1602 Shakes. Ham. ii. ii. 390 Gentlemen, you are welcom to Elsonower: your hands, come: The appurtenance of Welcome, is Fashion and Ceremony. Let me comply with you in the Garbe, lest my extent to the Players..should more appeare like entertainment then yours. Ibid. v. ii. 195 He did Complie with his Dugge before hee suck't it. 1628 Digby Voy. Medit. 69 Who related to me how nobly Signior Bego had complyed with him. 1639 Fuller Holy War ii. xxviii. (1647) 80 Some weeks were spent in complying, entertainments, and visiting holy places. |
† 3. To be complaisant with, make oneself agreeable to (persons), in conduct or action; to accommodate oneself to the desires or wishes of: the notion of politeness often passing into that of obsequiousness or servility. Obs.
| a 1631 Donne Lett. (1651) 151 If at any time I should chance, to fail in complying with you as duly as I ought. 1648 Evelyn Mem. (1857) III. 20 They will forthwith comply in all respects to their masters the army. 1676 G. Etherege Man of Mode iii. iii, Willing to flatter and comply with the Rich. 1683 R. Sheldon in Wood Life (1848) 252 If such a ciuility..may bee, at any time, seruiceable to you, I shall bee glad to comply with you. |
| absol. a 1635 Naunton Fragm. Reg. (Arb.) 49 Then we are not to doubt how such a man would comply, and learn the way of progression. |
† b. trans. to comply away: to lose or forfeit by complaisance. Obs.
| 1643 J. Burroughes Exp. Hosea i. (1652) 15 Many have..sought to comply with people so long till they have complyed away all their faithfulness and conscience. |
† 4. intr. to comply with: to accommodate, suit, adapt, or conform oneself to (circumstances, occasion, etc.). Obs.
| 1642 R. Carpenter Experience iii. vii. 106, I doe most humbly yeeld up my selfe, to comply with the ranke and quality in which I am by Thy royall appointment. 1649 Cromwell Lett. lxvii. 19 July, Let me know wherein I may comply with your occasions and mind. c 1660 Waller Poems, To King, The rising sun complies with our weak sight..As tho' He knew what harm his hasty beams would do. 1692 Locke Educ. §120 Happy are they who meet with civil People, who will comply with their Ignorance, and help them to get out of it. |
† b. To countenance; to conform to (opinions customs, etc.). Obs. (exc. as blended with 5, as if = To fulfil the requirements of custom, etc.)
| 1655–60 Stanley Hist. Philos. (1701) 28/2, I pronounce you the best of Tyrants; but to return to Athens I think not fitting, lest I incur blame..by returning, I shall comply with thy actions. 1691 Ray Creation i. (1704) 67 To comply with the common and receiv'd Opinion. 1716–18 Lady M. W. Montague Lett. I. x. 33 Even the..Empress herself is obliged to comply..with these absurd fashions. 1794 Sullivan View Nat. II. 435 He..complied with all the customs peculiar to the priesthood. |
† c. absol. To conform religiously or politically. (Cf. complier 2 b.) Obs.
| 1651 Serm. Coron. Chas. II in Phenix I. 251 Such as are compliers, who cannot act because they have a purpose to comply. 1654 Burton's Diary (1828) I. 157 By such things have men lost their consciences and honours, by complying upon such notions as these are. |
5. To act in accordance with, and fulfilment of, wishes, desires, requests, demands, conditions, or regulations; to fulfil the wishes or requirements of; to yield, accede, or consent to. † a. Formerly: To comply with a person. (The construction being as in 3.) Obs.
| 1674 Owen Holy Spirit (1693) 82 The Reason why he should be complied withal and believed in. 1764 Goldsm. Hist. Eng. in Lett. (1772) I. 85 Becket declared his repentance for having complied with the king. |
b. Now: To comply with a person's desires, requests, requirements, conditions, etc. Also predicated of actions, arrangements, and the like. (This and c are the only surviving uses.)
| 1650 Sir E. Nicholas in N. Papers (1886) I. 210 How reddy we are to comply with his desire. 1726 Gay Fables i. l. 8 A Hare, who in a civil way, Comply'd with ev'ry thing. 1799 Med. Jrnl. II. 387 It is with pleasure I comply with your request. 1841–4 Emerson Ess. Prudence Wks. (Bohn) I. 93 To seek health of body by complying with physical conditions. 1885 Law Times LXXIX. 171/2 Contracts..which do not comply with the requirements of Leeman's Act. |
c. absol.
| 1671 Milton Samson 1408 Yet this be sure, in nothing to comply Scandalous or forbidden in our law. 1678 Butler Hud. iii. iii. 547 He that complies against his will Is of his own opinion still! 1698 Tate & Brady Ps. xciii. 3 God above can still their Noise, And make the angry Sea comply. 1856 Froude Hist. Eng. (1858) I. iv. 359 The clergy with a bad grace complied. 1874 Green Short Hist. iv. §5 (1882) 202 It was only after a long and obstinate struggle that Edward was forced to comply. |
† d. To comply to: To accede, consent, or agree to. Obs.
| 1670 Plot Staffordsh. (1686) 407 To which request of the young Princes..the holy St. Ceadda readily complyed. 1672 Marvel Reh. Transp. i. 223 Many a fair declaration..to which nevertheless the Conscience of our Church hath not complyed. 1707 Luttrell Brief Rel. (1857) VI. 165 The king of Sweden..entertained him at dinner, and complied to his requests. |
† e. with inf. Obs.
| 1709 Strype Ann. Ref. I. vii. 105 They resolved..not to comply to take the oath of supremacy to the Queen, nor to renounce all foreign jurisdiction. 1710 E. Ward Brit. Hudib. 130 Because he can't Comply To pin his Faith upon a ly. 1715 M. Davies Ath. Brit. i. 166 Oglethorp..the only one of Queen Mary's Bishops that would comply to Crown Queen Elizabeth. 1725 Pope Odyss. x. 30 Then first my eyes, by watchful toil opprest Comply'd to take the balmy gifts of rest. |
† 6. To agree, accord with or together. Obs.
| 1645 E. Pagitt Heresiogr. (1662) 69 The separatists do comply in many things with the anabaptists. 1655 H. Vaughan Silex Scint. iii. 245 And on our hills, where health with height complied. 1656 Cowley Davideis iii. 718 So complyed Saul's Envy with her Hate. 1655 H. More Antid. Ath. ii. iv, Such a train of Causes so fitly and congruously complying together. |
† b. to comply with: To ‘agree with’, suit.
| 1626 T. Ailesbury Passion-serm. 20 How could it comply with Gods Sonne to be subjected to that vengeance which was prepared for devills! 1650 Fuller Pisgah ii. 76 Such movable habitations [tents] comply best with military men. 1662 ― Worthies (1840) II. 312 The soil..well complied with the nature of this plant. 1682 H. More Annot. Glanvill's Lux O. 48 If the Preexistence of souls comply with the Wisdom, Justice and Holiness of God. |
† 7. trans. To bring into accord or accordance; to conform to. Obs.
| 1642 Fuller Holy & Prof. St. iii. xix. (R. Supp.), He is a good time-server, that complyes his manners to the several ages of this life. a 1649 Drummond of Hawthornden Poems Wks. (1711) 50/2 To my sad tears comply these notes of yours. 1683 Pettus Fleta Min. i. Ded., Whereas the Original of Erckern's 5 Books hath no Coma's..I have comply'd them to our way of Orthography. |
† 8. intr. To enter into agreement with, ally oneself, confederate. Obs.
| 1646 Buck Rich. III, i. 9 The famous Pyrate, Thomas Nevill, alias Faulkonbridge, Earle of Kent, with whom complyed Sir Richard de Nevill, Earle of Warwicke. a 1655 Bp. G. Goodman Crt. Jas. I, 346 He went to several Catholic ambassadors..and began to comply with them. 1651 Tatham Distr. State v. i. Wks. (1879) 108 Agathocles..complied With th' soldiery..to put the magistrates to death. |
† 9. Of a thing: To adapt itself to, so as to coincide in size or shape with (to); to fit.
| 1676 Worlidge Cyder (1691) 141 If the Corks are steep'd in scalding Water..they will comply better with the Mouth of the Bottle. 1703 Moxon Mech. Exerc. 40 You must file away your Work..till the whole side be wrought to comply with the adjoining side of the Square. Ibid. 181 A thick String..will not comply closely to a piece of Work of small Diameter. 1704 Swift Batt. Bks. His crooked Leg, and hump Shoulder, which his Boot and Armour..were forced to comply with, and expose. 1704 Hearne Duct. Hist. (1714) I. 13 This oblig'd the Jews to make their Year comply with the Solar Year, by Intercalations as above-said. |
† 10. to comply with: see quot. Obs. rare.
| c 1720 W. Gibson Farrier's Dispens. i. i. (1734) 25 'Tis too costly a Medicine for Horses of small value, but to those of a high Price, it may be complied with to extraordinary good purpose in the Manege. |
▪ II. † comˈply, v.2 Obs. rare.
[app. f. L. complicāre; cf. apply, repr. L. applicāre, etc.]
1. trans. To compose by intertexture.
| c 1611 Chapman Iliad xxiv. 44 All his nerves being naturally complied Of eminent strength. |
2. To enfold, embrace.
| 1648 Herrick Hesper., Appar. of Mistr. 40 Ovid, by Whom faire Corinna sits, and doth comply With yvorie wrists his laureat head. Ibid., Oberon's Pal. 98 A rug of carded wooll..seem'd to Comply, Cloud-like, the daintie Deitie. |