Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Complain
Com-plain′
(kŏm-plān′)
, Verb.
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
Complained
(kŏm-plānd′)
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Complaining
.] [F.
complaindre
, LL. complangere
; com-
+ L. plangere
to strike, beat, to beat the breast or head as a sign of grief, to lament. See Plaint
.] 1.
To give utterance to expression of grief, pain, censure, regret. etc.; to lament; to murmur; to find fault; – commonly used with of. Also, to creak or squeak, as a timber or wheel.
O loss of sight, of thee I most
complain
! Milton.
2.
To make a formal accusation; to make a charge.
Syn. – To repine; grumble; deplore; bewail; grieve; mourn; regret; murmur.
Com-plain′
,Verb.
T.
To lament; to bewail.
[Obs.]
They might the grievance inwardly
complain
. Daniel.
By chaste Lucrece’s soul that late
Her wrongs to us.
complain'd
Her wrongs to us.
Shakespeare
Webster 1828 Edition
Complain
COMPLAIN
, v.i.1.
To utter expressions of grief; to lament.I will complain in the bitterness of my spirit. Job 7.
I complained and my spirit was overwhelmed. Ps. 77.
2.
To utter expressions of censure or resentment; to murmur; to find fault.And when the people complained, it displeased the Lord. Num. 11.
3.
To utter expressions of uneasiness, or pain. He complains of thirst. He complains of a head-ache.4.
To charge; to accuse of an offense; to present an accusation against a person to a proper officer.To A B, one of the justices of the peace for the county of S, complains C D.
This verb is regularly followed by of, before the cause of grief or censure; as, to complain of thirst, of ignorance, of vice, of an offender.
5.
To represent injuries, particularly in a writ of Audita Querela.COMPLAIN
,Verb.
T.
They might the grievance inwardly complain.
This use of complain is uncommon, and hardly legitimate. The phrase is properly elliptical.