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What is the difference between compliment and acclaim?

compliment | acclaim |

As nouns the difference between compliment and acclaim

is that compliment is an expression of praise, congratulation, encouragement, or respect while acclaim is (poetic) an acclamation; a shout of applause.

As verbs the difference between compliment and acclaim

is that compliment is (ambitransitive) to pay a compliment (to); to express a favorable opinion (of) while acclaim is to shout; to call out.

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

    acclaim

    English

    Etymology 1

    * First attested in the early 14th century. * (to applaud) First attested in the 1630's. * From (etyl) .

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (archaic) To shout; to call out.
  • To shout approval; to express great approval.
  • * 1911 , (Saki), The Chronicles of Clovis
  • *:The design, when finally developed, was a slight disappointment to Monsieur Deplis, who had suspected Icarus of being a fortress taken by Wallenstein in the Thirty Years' War, but he was more than satisfied with the execution of the work, which was acclaimed by all who had the privilege of seeing it as Pincini's masterpiece.
  • (rare) To salute or praise with great approval; to compliment; to applaud; to welcome enthusiastically.
  • * A glad acclaiming train. - Thomson
  • (obsolete) To claim.
  • To declare by acclamations.
  • * While the shouting crowd / Acclaims thee king of traitors. - Smollett
  • (Canada, politics) To elect to an office by having no opposition.
    • Derived terms
    * acclaimable * acclaimer
    Related terms
    * acclamation * acclamatory

    Etymology 2

    * First attested in 1667.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (poetic) An acclamation; a shout of applause.
  • (obsolete) A claim.
    • Synonyms
    * See also

    Anagrams

    * English words prefixed with ad-