different between knuckle vs comply

English

Etymology

From Middle English knokel (“finger joint”), from Old English cnucel (“the juncture of two bones; knuckle; joint”), from Proto-West Germanic *knukil, from Proto-Germanic *knukilaz (“knuckle, knot, bump”), as *knukô (“bone, joint”) +? *-ilaz (diminutive suffix). Cognate with Dutch knokkel (“knuckle”), Low German Knökel (“knuckle”), German Knöchel (“ankle, knuckle”), Old Norse knykill.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?n?k?l/
• Rhymes: -?k?l

Noun

knuckle (plural knuckles)

1. Any of the joints between the phalanges of the fingers.
2. (by extension) A mechanical joint.
3. A cut of meat.
4. (sports, billiards, snooker, pool) The curved part of the cushion at the entrance to the pockets on a cue sports table.
5. The kneejoint of a quadruped, especially of a calf; formerly used of the kneejoint of a human being.
   • 1567, Ovid, Arthur Golding (translator), Metamorphoses

     With wearie knockles on thy brim she kneeled sadly downe

6. (obsolete) The joint of a plant.
   • 1623, Francis Bacon, The History of Dense and Rare

     In the West Indies there are found , even in sandy deserts and very dry places , large canes , which at every joint or knuckle yield a good supply of fresh water

7. (shipbuilding) A convex portion of a vessel's figure where a sudden change of shape occurs, as in a canal boat, where a nearly vertical side joins a nearly flat bottom.
8. A contrivance, usually of brass or iron, and furnished with points, worn to protect the hand, to add force to a blow, and to disfigure the person struck; a knuckle duster.

9. (skiing, snowboarding) The rounded point where a flat changes to a slope on a piste.

Derived terms

Translations

Verb

knuckle (third-person singular simple present knuckles, present participle knuckling, simple past and past participle knuckled)

1. (transitive) To apply pressure, or rub or massage with one's knuckles.

   He knuckled the sleep from his eyes.

2. (intransitive) To bend the fingers.
3. (intransitive) To touch one's forehead as a mark of respect.
4. (intransitive, figuratively) To yield.

   Synonym: knuckle under

English

Etymology

From Italian complire, Catalan complir (“to complete, fulfil; to carry out”), Spanish cumplir (“to complete, fulfil”), from Latin compl?re, from comple? (“to finish, complete; to fulfil”), from com- (prefix indicating completeness of an act) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *?óm (“beside, near; by, with”)) + ple? (“to fill; to fulfil”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *pleh?- (“to fill”)). More likely from Old French compli, past participle of complir "to accomplish, fulfill, carry out," from Vulgar Latin *complire, from Latin complere "to fill up," transferred to "fulfill, finish (a task)," from com-, here probably as an intensive prefix (see com-), + plere "to fill" (from PIE root *pele- (1) "to fill")https://www.etymonline.com/word/comply. The word is very close to the French verb "complaire" which means to satisfy or to please. The word is also cognate with Old French complir (“to accomplish, complete; to do”) (modern French accomplir (“to accomplish, achieve”)). Compare complete, compliment.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation, General American) IPA^(key): /k?m?pla?/
• Rhymes: -a?
• Hyphenation: com?ply

Verb

comply (third-person singular simple present complies, present participle complying, simple past and past participle complied)

1. To yield assent; to accord; to acquiesce, agree, consent; to adapt oneself, to conform.

   Synonyms: give way; see also Thesaurus:accede

   Antonym: violate

   • 1663, John Tillotson, The Wisdom of being Religious

     That the generality of the Philo?ophers and wi?e men of all Nations and Ages, did di??ent from the multitude in the?e things. They believed but one Supreme Deity, which with re?pect to the various benefits men received from him, had ?everal titles be?towed upon him. And although they did ?ervilely comply with the people in wor?hipping God by ?en?ible images and repre?entations, yet it appears by their writings that they de?pi?ed this way of wor?hip as ?uper?titous and un?uitable to the nature of God.
2. (archaic) To accomplish, to fulfil. [from late 16th c.]

   Synonyms: carry out, consummate
3. (archaic) To be ceremoniously courteous; to make one's compliments.
4. (archaic) To enfold; to embrace.

Usage notes

The word is usually followed by with.

Derived terms

Related terms

• accomplish
• complete
• compliment

Translations

References

Anagrams

• clompy