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Approbation vs Compliment - What's the difference?

approbation | compliment | Related terms |

Approbation is a related term of compliment.


As nouns the difference between approbation and compliment

is that approbation is the act of approving; an assenting to the propriety of a thing with some degree of pleasure or satisfaction; approval, sanction, commendation or official recognition while compliment is an expression of praise, congratulation, encouragement, or respect.

As a verb compliment is

(ambitransitive) to pay a compliment (to); to express a favorable opinion (of).

approbation

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • The act of approving; an assenting to the propriety of a thing with some degree of pleasure or satisfaction; approval, sanction, commendation or official recognition
  • * (rfdate)
    • Many...joined in a loud hum of approbation .
  • * (rfdate)
    • The silent approbation of one's own breast.
  • * 1871 , , Descent of Man , ch. 3:
    • [A]nimals not only love, but have desire to be loved. . . . They love approbation or praise.

    Usage notes

    * Approbation and approval have the same general meaning, assenting to or declaring as good, sanction, commendation; but approbation is stronger and more positive. We may be anxious for the approbation of our friends; but we should be still more anxious for the approval of our own consciences.'' ''He who is desirous to obtain universal approbation will learn a good lesson from the fable of the old man and his ass.'' ''The work has been examined by several excellent judges, who have expressed their unqualified approval of its plan and execution.
    (material dates from 1913)

    Synonyms

    * (act of approving) approval, approve, concurrence, consent, liking, sanction * See also

    Antonyms

    * (act of approving) disapprobation

    Related terms

    * approbate * approbative * approbatory

    See also

    * ("approbation" on Wikipedia)

    External links

    * * * ----

    compliment

    English

    (wikipedia compliment)

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl), from (etyl) complire, from (etyl) complere

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • An expression of praise, congratulation, encouragement, or respect.
  • * Milton
    • Tedious waste of time, to sit and hear / So many hollow compliments and lies.
  • * Cowper
    • many a compliment politely penned
  • (uncountable) Complimentary language; courtesy, flattery.
  • *
    • This accomplished man condescended to think of a young girl, and take the pains to talk to her, not with absurd compliment , but with an appeal to her understanding, and sometimes with instructive correction.
    • Synonyms
    * See also
    Antonyms
    *insult
    Derived terms
    * backhanded compliment * left-handed compliment * with compliments

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl), from (etyl) complimento'' (etyl) ''cumplimiento'', from ''cumplir'', from ''complire'', from (etyl) ''complere .

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (ambitransitive) To pay a compliment (to); to express a favorable opinion (of).
  • * Prior
    • Monarchs should their inward soul disguise; / Should compliment their foes and shun their friends.
    • Antonyms
    *insult