complement
UK[ˈkɒmplɪmənt]US[ˈkɑːmplɪmənt]
n
something that completes or makes perfect
n
the full quantity, number, or amount needed
n
(grammar) a word or phrase added to a verb to complete the meaning of the predicate
v
to add to something in a way that improves or completes it
Morpheme Breakdown
com
ple
ment
com
together
ple
fill
ment
noun suffix
Etymology
The word "complement" originates from the Latin complēmentum, meaning "that which fills up or completes." This noun is derived from the verb complēre, which combines com- (an intensive prefix meaning "completely") and plēre ("to fill"). The core concept is one of filling something up to make it whole or perfect. Over time, the meaning evolved from the literal act of filling to the more abstract idea of something that makes another thing complete by adding a perfecting or balancing element, a sense retained in its modern usage.
Analysis
Structure: com (together) + ple (fill) + ment (noun suffix)
- com: Latin origin, a prefix meaning "together, with".
- ple: From Latin plēre, meaning "to fill".
- ment: A Latin suffix (-mentum) used to form nouns indicating an action, process, or result.
Examples
The wine was a perfect complement to the cheese.
The ship had its full complement of officers and crew.
In the sentence "She is a doctor," the phrase "a doctor" is the subject complement.