compliant, a. and n.
(kəmˈplaɪənt)
Also 7 -plyant.
[f. comply v. + -ant; after defiant, etc.]
A. adj.
1. Complying, disposed to comply; ‘civil, complaisant’ (J.); ready to yield to the wishes or desires of others.
| 1642 Ld. Digby in Clarendon Hist. Reb. iv. (1843) 173/2 If after all..he shall betake himself to the easiest and compliantest ways of accommodation. 1679 Burnet Hist. Ref. 71 The King did not doubt but the Pope would be compliant to his desires. 1828 Scott F.M. Perth vii, The rest will be compliant to the same resolution. 1870 Disraeli Lothair xlii. 217, I do not like to be churlish when all are so amiable and compliant. 1874 Green Short Hist. iv. §2 (1882) 172 Their representatives..proved far more compliant with the royal will than the barons. |
† 2. Yielding to physical pressure, plaint. Obs.
| 1667 Milton P.L. iv. 3 Nectarine Fruits, which the compliant boughes Yeilded them. 1788 Smeaton Quadrant in Phil. Trans. LXXIX. 6 The whole being slender and compliant, except in point of length. 1793 ― Edystone L. §302 Wood wedges..being more supple, elastic, and compliant than wedges of metal. |
† B. n. One who complies; a complier. Obs.
| 1655 Fuller Ch. Hist. xi. VI. 314 It being a compliant with the papists, in a great part of their service, doth not a little confirm them in their superstition and idolatry. a 1661 ― Worthies i. 331 His sturdy nature would not bow to Court-compliants. 1660 Z. Crofton Fast. St. Peter's Fetters 37 Our Soft Covenanters, Speedy Complyants, and Temporizing Turn-Coats. |