I. kəmˈplān verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English compleynen, from Middle French compleindre, complaindre (3d person plural present indicative complaignent ), from (assumed) Vulgar Latin complangere, from Latin com- + plangere to beat, beat the breast, lament — more at plaint
intransitive verb
1. obsolete : to express sorrow with weeping and outcry : lament
2.
a. : to express discontent, dissatisfaction, protest, resentment, or regret usually without recalcitrance or threat and as though expecting sympathy
began to complain of it and lament her being ill-used — Jane Austen
his troubles were really little ones. He had nothing to complain about — Lenard Kaufman
b.
(1) archaic : to be ailing
(2) : to speak of one's illness or symptoms
3. : to make a formal accusation, charge, or complaint
the French consulate and the English consulate had complained of him … charging him with being high-handed — Louis Bromfield
4. : to groan, creak, or make an otherwise mournful sound as though protesting or lamenting
the overloaded wagon complaining at each turn
transitive verb
1. obsolete : lament : weep at : bewail
2. : to say or relate with dissatisfaction, protest, or regret as though expecting sympathy or redress
Cotton Mather complained, “'Tis dreadful cold, my ink glass … is froze” — American Guide Series: Massachusetts
if we complain that so vague a term fails to do justice — Edward Sapir
Synonyms:
repine , grumble , grouse , beef , gripe , croak , squawk , bellyache : complain , which originally meant lamenting or bewailing, is now a general term for uttering unhappiness or discontent; it may indicate that a sympathetic reaction is expected or feasible
a voice complaining … a venomous and senile whimper — Jean Stafford
he had heard Ed complaining of his lot in life and crying out for new times — Sherwood Anderson
when the people complain, said Mirabeau, the people are always right — J.A.Froude
repine , now always bookish or literary, may suggest querulous plaintiveness
his old age may have been monotonous, but there was no repining about it — Brand Blanshard
In contrast, the following words range from the echoic suggestion of grumble to the slang form bellyache. grumble suggests discontented muttering, often from a personality hard to satisfy and given to ill-natured complaint
the way people grumble about their rates and taxes — G.B.Shaw
reluctant laughter and grumbling thanks — Kenneth Roberts
grouse may be applied to sustained forceful grumbling at annoyances
soldiers grousing about their food
never once have I heard him grouse about how tough things are — Saturday Review
beef may suggest angry or emphatic complaint
the beefing and clamoring by certain groups for a change — New Republic
a few who have drilled … beef about being kept in uniform — Dixon Wecter
gripe may suggest continued strong grumbling or criticizing, as though motivated by being griped
after two or three days in the Army, he gripes like a veteran at the brass, the shavetails, the chow — Christian Science Monitor
croak , squawk , and bellyache may imply lack of sympathy with the complainer. croak may suggest pessimistic, doleful, dismal complaining, squawk a loud raucous outcry, as of a fowl, perhaps ineffective, and bellyache a peevish or disgruntled whining
the little old lady in black … tells you how just last fall her husband died in Ohio, and damp mists her glasses; she blinks and croaks — R.P.Warren
the first industries to be hit by the credit curbs have squawked — Atlantic
bellyaching about rationing, curtailment of civilian goods, administrative confusion, and various other annoyances — Harper's
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English compleyn, from compleynen, v.
archaic : complaint