My father once told me that the words "compleat" and "complete" are two different words. The word "compleat" is neither an incorrectly spelled "complete", nor the British way of spelling the American "complete". It is a different word, with a similar meaning. They are not, however, the same.
From Dictionary.com
COMPLEAT
adj.
1. Of or characterized by a highly developed or wide-ranging skill or proficiency: “The compleat speechwriter... comes to anonymity from Harvard Law” (Israel Shenker).
2. Being an outstanding example of a kind; quintessential: “Here was the compleat modern misfit: the very air appeared to poison him; his every step looked treacherous and hard won” (Stephen Schiff).
COMPLETE
adj. com·plet·er, com·plet·est
1. Having all necessary or normal parts, components, or steps; entire: a complete meal.
2. Botany. Having all principal parts, namely, the sepals, petals, stamens, and pistil or pistils. Used of a flower.
3. Having come to an end; concluded.
4. Absolute; total: “In Cairo I have seen buildings which were falling down as they were being put up, buildings whose incompletion was complete” (William H. Gass).
5. a. Skilled; accomplished: a complete musician.
b. Thorough; consummate: a complete coward.
No comments:
Post a Comment