Word of the Day for Wednesday April 6, 2005 complement \KOM-pluh-muhnt\, noun: 1. Something that fills up or completes. 2. The quantity or number required to make up a whole or to make something complete. 3. One of two parts that complete a whole or mutually complete each other; a counterpart. transitive verb: To supply what is lacking; to serve as a complement to; to supplement. He was four years older than Lewis, whom he had once commanded in the army; less formally educated, but with more practical experience and a steadier yet more outgoing personality -- a friend, but also a perfect complement in both training and temperament to the man who was inviting Clark to make history with him. --Dayton Duncan, [1]Lewis & Clark There was also a tennis court, a riding stable, a five-car garage, and a full complement of servants. --Carol Felsenthal, [2]Citizen Newhouse The two points of view are not contradictory; they complement each other. --Feançoise Gilot, "The Maid Was Ugly, the Meals Were Bad...," [3]New York Times, October 7, 1970 Smart, athletic, blond, with a "bubbly" -- that's the word Ed uses to describe Sue when she's not around -- personality that complements his perpetually calm outlook. --Martin Dugard, [4]Knockdown The wine complemented the food perfectly. --Mary Sheepshanks, [5]Picking Up the Pieces _________________________________________________________ Complement is from Latin complementum, from complere, "to fill up," from com- (intensive prefix) + plere, "to fill." Usage note: Complement and compliment ("an expression of admiration or praise") are sometimes confused because they are pronounced the same. A good way to remember which is which is to make a connection between the spelling of complement and complete. References 1. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0375706526/ref%3Dnosim/lexico 2. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1888363878/ref%3Dnosim/lexico 3. http://www.nytimes.com/ 4. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0671038796/ref%3Dnosim/lexico 5. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0312970374/ref%3Dnosim/lexico Dictionary.com Entry and Pronunciation http://dictionary.reference.com/search?r=9&q=complement