complain

• POS: Verb (intransitive)
• HYPHEN: com=plain
• COUNT in NET: 8 in 8 verses (in OT : 5 in 5 verses) (in NT : 3 in 3 verses)

CIDE DICTIONARY

complain, v. i. [F. complaindre, LL. complangere; com- + L. plangere to strike, beat, to beat the breast or head as a sign of grief, to lament. See Plaint.].

•  To give utterance to expression of grief, pain, censure, regret. etc.; to lament; to murmur; to find fault; -- commonly used with of. Also, to creak or squeak, as a timber or wheel.  [1913 Webster]

  "O loss of sight, of thee I most complain!"  [1913 Webster]
•  To make a formal accusation; to make a charge.  [1913 Webster]

  "Now, Master Shallow, you'll complain of me to the king?"

Syn. -- To repine; grumble; deplore; bewail; grieve; mourn; regret; murmur.

complain, v. t. 

 To lament; to bewail.  [1913 Webster]
"They might the grievance inwardly complain."  [1913 Webster]
"By chaste Lucrece's soul that late complain'd
Her wrongs to us."  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

complain, v.intr.
1 (often foll. by about, at, or that + clause) express dissatisfaction (complained at the state of the room; is always complaining).
2 (foll. by of) a announce that one is suffering from (an ailment) (complained of a headache). b state a grievance concerning (complained of the delay).
3 make a mournful sound; groan, creak under a strain.

Derivative

complainer n. complainingly adv.

Etymology

ME f. OF complaindre (stem complaign-) f. med.L complangere bewail (as COM-, plangere planct- lament)

THESAURUS

complain

accuse, ail, air a grievance, allege, arraign, article, be affected with, beef, bellyache, bemoan, bitch, boggle, book, boycott, bring accusation, bring charges, bring to book, call in question, carp at, challenge, charge, cite, clamor, complain loudly, complain of, confront, contend with, crab, croak, cry, cry out against, demonstrate, demonstrate against, demur, denounce, denunciate, dispute, dissent, enter a protest, expostulate, face down, face out, face up to, fasten on, fasten upon, feel ill, find fault, finger, fret, fret and fume, front, fuss, gripe, groan, grouch, grouse, growl, grumble, grunt, hang something on, holler, howl, impeach, imply, impute, indict, inform against, inform on, insinuate, kick, kick against, labor under, lament, lay charges, lodge a complaint, lodge a plaint, make a stand, march, meet head-on, moan, murmur, mutter, nag, object, offer resistance, oppose, pester, picket, pin on, prefer charges, press charges, press objections, protest, put on report, raise a howl, rally, recalcitrate, register a complaint, reluct, remonstrate, repine, report, reproach, revolt, scruple, show fight, sing the blues, sit in, squawk, stand, stand at bay, stand up against, stand up to, state a grievance, strike, strive against, suffer, take on, take to task, task, taunt with, tax, teach in, twit, wail, whimper, whine, withstand, worry, yap, yell bloody murder, yelp

ROGET THESAURUS

complain

Lamentation

VB lament, mourn, deplore, grieve, weep over, bewail, bemoan, condole with, fret, wear mourning, go into mourning, put on mourning, wear the willow, wear sackcloth and ashes, infandum renovare dolorem, give sorrow words, sigh, give a sigh, heave, fetch a sigh, waft a sigh from Indus to the pole, sigh 'like a furnace', wail, cry, weep, sob, greet, blubber, pipe, snivel, bibber, whimper, pule, pipe one's eye, drop tears, shed tears, drop a tear, shed a tear, melt into tears, burst into tears, fondre en larmes, cry oneself blind, cry one's eyes out, yammer, scream, mew, groan, moan, whine, roar, roar like a bull, bellow like a bull, cry out lustily, rend the air, frown, scowl, make a wry face, gnash one's teeth, wring one's hands, tear one's hair, beat one's breast, roll on the ground, burst with grief, complain, murmur, mutter, grumble, growl, clamor, make a fuss about, croak, grunt, maunder, deprecate, cry out before one is hurt, complain without cause.