Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Comply
Com-ply′
(kŏm-plī′)
, Verb.
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
Complied
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Complying
.] [Perh. formed fr.
compliment
, influenced by ply
, pliant
, which are of different origin: cf. It. complire
to compliment, finish, suit. See Compliment
, Complete
.] 1.
To yield assent; to accord; agree, or acquiesce; to adapt one’s self; to consent or conform; – usually followed by
with
. Yet this be sure, in nothing to
Scandalous or forbidden in our law.
comply
,Scandalous or forbidden in our law.
Milton.
They did servilely
comply
with the people in worshiping God by sensible images. Tillotson.
He that
Is of his own opinion still.
complies
against his willIs of his own opinion still.
Hudibras.
2.
To be ceremoniously courteous; to make one's compliments.
[Obs.]
Shak.
Webster 1828 Edition
Comply
COMPLY
, v.i.1.
To comply with, to fulfil; to perfect or carry into effect; to complete; to perform or execute; as, to comply with a promise, with an award, with a command, with an order. So to comply with ones expectations or wishes, is to fulfil them, or complete them.2.
To yield to; to be obsequious; to accord; to suit; followed by with; as, to comply with a mans humor.The truth of things will not comply with or conceits.
Definition 2024
comply
comply
English
Verb
comply (third-person singular simple present complies, present participle complying, simple past and past participle complied)
- To yield assent; to accord; agree, or acquiesce; to adapt one's self; to consent or conform.
- John Milton (1608-1674)
- Yet this be sure, in nothing to comply, / Scandalous or forbidden in our law.
- John Tillotson (1630-1694)
- They did servilely comply with the people in worshiping God by sensible images.
- 1664?, Samuel Butler, Hudibras
- He that complies against his will / Is of his own opinion still.
- 1922, Ben Travers, chapter 6, in A Cuckoo in the Nest:
- But Sophia's mother was not the woman to brook defiance. After a few moments' vain remonstrance her husband complied.
- 2009, Wikipedia: Cuba:
- The U.S. Congress passed a resolution calling for intervention and President William McKinley was quick to comply.
- John Milton (1608-1674)
- (archaic) To be ceremoniously courteous; to make one's compliments.
- 1599, William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, II. ii. 371:
- Let me comply with you in this / garb, lest my extent to the players, which I tell you must / show fairly outwards, should more appear like entertainment / than yours.
- 1599, William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, II. ii. 371:
- (archaic) To fulfill; to accomplish.
- (Can we find and add a quotation of Chapman to this entry?)
- (archaic) To enfold; to embrace.
- Robert Herrick (1591-1674)
- Seemed to comply, / Cloudlike, the daintie deitie.
- Robert Herrick (1591-1674)
Usage notes
- Usually followed by "with".
Related terms
Antonyms
Translations
to yield assent
|
|
to be ceremoniously courteous
|
to infold