complement
“and ceremony of it—In all the accoutrement,”
THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR, iv. 2.
5
;
“deck'd in modest complement,”
HENRY V., ii. 2. 134
;
“A man of complements,”
LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST, i. 1.
166
;
“in all complements of devoted,”
LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST, i. 1.
258
;
“These are complements,”
LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST, iii. 1.
19
;
“the courageous captain of complements,”
ROMEO AND JULIET, ii. 4. 20.
“Compliment [Complement],
in Shakespeare's time, did not signify, at least did not only signify, verbal civility or
phrases of courtesy, but, according to its original meaning, the trappings or ornamental
appendages of a character; in the same manner, and on the same principles of speech, with
accomplishment. Complement is, as Armado well expresses
it, the varnish of a complete man”
(JOHNSON)
.
A General Glossary to Shakespeare's Works. Alexander Dyce. Boston. Dana Estes and Company. 1904.
This text was converted to electronic form by professional data entry and has been proofread to a high level of accuracy.
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