Com"ple*ment (?), n. [L. complementum: cf. F. complément. See Complete, v. t., and cf. Compliment.] 1. That which fills up or completes; the quantity or number required to fill a thing or make it complete.
2. That which is required to supply a deficiency, or to complete a symmetrical whole.
History is the complement of poetry.
Sir J. Stephen.
3. Full quantity, number, or amount; a complete set; completeness.
To exceed his complement and number appointed him which was one hundred and twenty persons.
Hakluyt.
4. Math. A second quantity added to a given quantity to make equal to a third given quantity.
5. Something added for ornamentation; an accessory. [Obs.]
Without vain art or curious complements.
Spenser.
6. Naut. The whole working force of a vessel.
7. Mus. The interval wanting to complete the octave; -- the fourth is the complement of the fifth, the sixth of the third.
8. A compliment. [Obs.]
Shak.
Arithmetical compliment of a logarithm. See under Logarithm. -- Arithmetical complement of a number Math., the difference between that number and the next higher power of 10; as, 4 is the complement of 6, and 16 of 84. -- Complement of an arc ∨ angle Geom., the difference between that arc or angle and 90°. -- Complement of a parallelogram. Math. See Gnomon. -- In her complement Her., said of the moon when represented as full.
© Webster 1913.
Com"ple*ment (?), v. t. 1. To supply a lack; to supplement. [R.]
2. To compliment. [Obs.]
Jer. Taylor.
© Webster 1913. | 
