complain

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To say that you are unhappy or annoyed about something.

   Joe was always complaining about the noise made by his neighbours.

2. 2
   verb

   To make a formal report saying that something is wrong.

   I complained to the manager about the poor service.

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.

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