complainingn.
/kəmˈpleɪnɪŋ/ a. The action of complain v.; plaint, complaint.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > suffering > sorrow or grief > lamentation or expression of grief > [noun]
carea1000
sorrowingOE
meaninga1200
moan?c1225
mourning?c1225
plaint?c1225
ruthc1225
weimerc1230
mean?c1250
sorrow?c1250
dolec1290
plainingc1300
woec1300
dolourc1320
mourna1350
waymentingc1350
penancec1380
complaintc1384
lamentationc1384
complainingc1385
moaninga1400
waiminga1400
waymenta1400
waymentationc1400
dillc1420
merourec1429
plainc1475
regratec1480
complainc1485
regretc1500
lamenting1513
doleance1524
deploration1533
deplorement1593
condolement1602
regreeting1606
imploration1607
pother1638
dolinga1668
moanification1827
dolence1861
the mind > emotion > suffering > displeasure > discontent or dissatisfaction > state of complaining > [noun] > action of complaining
yomeringc1000
grutching?c1225
plainingc1300
complaintc1384
murmurc1385
murmurationc1390
groiningc1405
grudgingc1420
musinga1425
querimonyc1450
storming1461
mutteringc1475
grudge1477
grunching1487
murmuringc1530
muting1542
repining1550
orpingc1598
maundering1611
oggannition1625
jowering1628
remonstrating1647
regrudginga1677
complaining1702
pesting1705
yammering1705
growling1752
pine1804
gruntling1834
bitching1939
griping1945
pissing1947
bitch1975
kitchen-sinking1975
c1385 G. Chaucer Legend Good Women Dido. 1353 To yow make I myn compleynynge.
1509 J. Fisher Mornynge Remembraunce Countesse of Rychemonde (de Worde) sig. Avi The complaynynge & lamentacyon yt the soule of this noble prynces myghte make.
1611 Bible (King James) Psalms cxliv. 14 That there be no complaining in our streetes. View more context for this quotation
1702 N. Rowe Ambitious Step-mother (ed. 2) iv. i The piercing Accents of her loud Complainings.
1820 J. Keats Eve of St. Agnes in Lamia & Other Poems 100 Those looks immortal, those complainings dear!
b. transferred and figurative.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > unpleasant quality > mournful or plaintive sound > [noun]
groan1608
suuma1616
requiem1635
knell1647
moan1730
plaint1730
complaining1735
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > unpleasant quality > shrill quality > [noun] > harshness and shrillness > creak
screak1513
creaking1520
screaking1565
creak1606
jarg1820
complaining1839
cry1873
1735 W. Somervile Chace ii. 428 The Bird..cheared the list'ning Groves With sweet Complainings.
1839 F. Marryat Phantom Ship I. ix. 209 Hear..the complaining of her masts.
1882 Daily Tel. 12 Sept. 2/2 The..moaning of the wind in the rigging, and the complaining of massive timbers.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1891; most recently modified version published online March 2019).
complainingadj.
That complains; lamenting, murmuring, querulous.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > suffering > sorrow or grief > lamentation or expression of grief > [adjective]
carefulOE
charyOE
mourningOE
sorrowingOE
sorryOE
balec1220
heavy?c1225
ruefulc1225
ruthfulc1225
sorrowful?c1225
dolefulc1275
plaintivea1393
complainingc1430
lamentable?a1475
plaining?c1475
dolent1490
lamentatious1532
troublous1535
plaintfula1542
dirge-like1561
yearnfula1566
waymenting1573
mestive1575
lamentatory1576
mestful1577
wailful1579
lamentinga1586
weepy1602
deplorative1610
deploringa1616
gement1656
condolent1691
dirgeful1793
dirgy1830
lamentful1876
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > unpleasant quality > mournful or plaintive sound > [adjective]
complainingc1430
plainful1598
dismala1616
querulous1628
groaning1697
plaintive1697
gaunt1814
the mind > emotion > suffering > displeasure > discontent or dissatisfaction > state of complaining > [adjective] > complaining
grutching?c1225
plaintivea1393
complainingc1430
plainteous1444
quarrellousc1450
murmurousa1525
murmuring1530
grudging?1531
yammeringc1540
complaintful1552
muttering1567
groanful1590
grumblinga1616
complaintive1637
quirking1746
complainant1791
twiney1824
maundering1848
nattered1853
grumbly1858
moany1867
grouchy1895
grumblesome1925
c1430 tr. Thomas à Kempis Consol. iii. iii Be ashamed þerfore, þou sluggussh & compleynyng seruaunt.
1495 Trevisa's Bartholomeus De Proprietatibus Rerum (de Worde) xiv. x. sig. Eiiiv/2 A compleynyng voyce of doole & sorowe.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Two Gentlemen of Verona (1623) v. iv. 5 The Nightingales complaining Notes. View more context for this quotation
1687 J. Dryden Song St. Cecilia's Day iv The soft complaining Flute.
1734 Grub St. Jrnl. 2 May 4/1 On the complaining part of Ovid's Epistles.
1853 W. C. Bryant Poems (new ed.) 33 The complaining brooks That make the meadows green.
Derivatives
comˈplainingly adv.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > suffering > displeasure > discontent or dissatisfaction > state of complaining > [adverb]
plainandly?c1450
repiningly1571
gruntingly1611
complainingly1626
querimoniously1649
groininglya1656
growlingly1803
grumblingly1836
murmuringly1866
grouchily1906
bitchingly1970
the mind > emotion > suffering > sorrow or grief > lamentation or expression of grief > [adverb]
sorelyc888
yomerlya1000
yomerea1250
ruthlya1400
mourninglya1425
sorrowinglya1425
lamentably1470
in sackcloth and ashes1526
tragically1567
plaintively1593
lamentinglyc1610
bemoaningly1646
complainingly1816
deploringly1847
sighfully1900
1626 W. Rawley in F. Bacon Silva To Rdr. sig. A2 I haue heard his Lordship speake complainingly.
1816 Ld. Byron Siege of Corinth xxxiii. 54 The jackal's troop..Bayed from afar complainingly.
comˈplainingness n.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > suffering > displeasure > discontent or dissatisfaction > state of complaining > [noun]
quarrellousness1634
querulousness1651
querulity1699
querulosity1795
complainingness1876
complaintiveness1888
grouchiness1925
1876 ‘G. Eliot’ Daniel Deronda III. v. xxxix. 162 Kate, lifting up her eyebrow with a playful complainingness.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1891; most recently modified version published online December 2019).
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n.c1385
adj.c1430