Added 9 October 2026
complain
/kəmˈpleɪn/ verb
In Latin: queror Wiktionary
verb Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about complain at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
-
Express complaints, discontent, displeasure, or unhappiness.
My mother complains all day
-
Make a formal accusation; bring a formal charge.
The plaintiff's lawyer complained that he defendant had physically abused his client
Origin
From Middle English complaynen, from Old French complaindre, from Medieval Latin complangere (“to bewail, complain”), from Latin com- (“together”) + plangere (“to strike, beat, as the breast in extreme grief, bewail”); see plain, plaint.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)