complacence

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English

Etymology

From late Middle English complacence, from Medieval Latin complacentia, from Latin complaceō (I please).

Pronunciation

Noun

complacence (countable and uncountable, plural complacences)

  1. (archaic) Being complacent; a feeling of contentment or satisfaction; complacency.
    • 1703 June 10 (Gregorian calendar), Francis Atterbury, “A Sermon Preached at St. Paul’s before the Lord Mayor. May 30, 1703”, in Thomas Moore, editor, Sermons on Several Occasions. , volume II, London: George James ; and sold by C. Davis, , published 1734, →OCLC, page 106:
      [T]he inward Complacence we find in acting reaſonably and vertuouſly, and the Diſquiet we feel from vicious Choices and Purſuits, is protracted beyond the Acts themſelves from whence it aroſe, and renewed often upon our Souls, by diſtant Reflections; []
  2. (obsolete) Delight, pleasure.
    • 1667, John Milton, “Book III”, in Paradise Lost. , London: [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker ; nd by Robert Boulter ; nd Matthias Walker, , →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: , London: Basil Montagu Pickering , 1873, →OCLC:
      O thou, my sole complacence.
  3. (obsolete) Complaisance; a willingness to comply with others' wishes.
    • 1749, Henry Fielding, The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, volume (please specify |volume=I to VI), London: A Millar, , →OCLC:
      He told his sister, if she pleased, the new-born infant should be bred up together with little Tommy; to which she consented, though with some little reluctance: for she had truly a great complacence for her brother []

Synonyms