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complain

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To complain is to express your dissatisfaction or to indicate that you have an illness.

(verb)

An example of complain is when you tell a restaurant they gave you poor service because your food was cold.
An example of complain is when you say you have a headache.

See complain in Webster's New World College Dictionary

intransitive verb

to claim or express pain, displeasure, etc.
to find fault; declare annoyance
to make an accusation; bring a formal charge

Origin: ME compleinen < OFr complaindre < VL *complangere, orig., to beat the breast < L com-, intens. + plangere, to strike: see plaint

Related Forms:

complainer noun

See complain in American Heritage Dictionary 4

intransitive verb com·plained, com·plain·ing, com·plains

To express feelings of pain, dissatisfaction, or resentment.
To make a formal accusation or bring a formal charge.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English compleinen

Origin: , from Old French complaindre, complaign-

Origin: , from Vulgar Latin *complangere

Origin: : Latin com-, intensive pref.; see com-

Origin: + Latin plangere, to lament; see plāk-² in Indo-European roots

Related Forms:

com·plainˈer noun

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