Complain Definition

kəm-plān

complained, complaining, complains

verb

complained, complaining, complains

To claim or express pain, displeasure, etc.

Webster's New World

To find fault; declare annoyance.

Webster's New World

To make an accusation; bring a formal charge.

Webster's New World

To creak or squeak, as a timber or wheel.

The complaining bed-springs.

Wiktionary

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

Origin of Complain

From Middle English complaynen, from Old French complaindre, from Medieval Latin complangere (“to bewail, complain”), from Latin com- (“together”) + plangere (“to strike, beat, as the breast in extreme grief, bewail”); see plain, plaint.

From Wiktionary
Middle English compleinen from Old French complaindre complaign- from Vulgar Latin complangere Latin com- intensive pref. com– Latin plangere to lament plāk-² in Indo-European roots

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition