Complement

Com′ple·ment (kŏm′plē·ment), n. [L. complementun: cf. F. complément. See Complete, v. t., and cf. Compliment.] 1. That which fills up or completes; the quantity or number required to fill a thing or make it complete.

2. That which is required to supply a deficiency, or to complete a symmetrical whole.

History is the complement of poetry. Sir J. Stephen.

3. Full quantity, number, or amount; a complete set; completeness.

To exceed his complement and number appointed him which was one hundred and twenty persons. Hakluyt.

4. (Math.) A second quantity added to a given quantity to make it equal to a third given quantity.

5. Something added for ornamentation; an accessory. [Obs.]

Without vain art or curious complements. Spenser.

6. (Naut.) The whole working force of a vessel.

7. (Mus.) The interval wanting to complete the octave; — the fourth is the complement of the fifth, the sixth of the third.

8. A compliment. [Obs.] Shak.

Arithmetical compliment of a logarithm. See under Logarithm. — Arithmetical complement of a number (Math.), the difference between that number and the next higher power of 10; as, 4 is the complement of 6, and 16 of 84. — Complement of an arc or angle (Geom.), the difference between that arc or angle and 90°. — Complement of a parallelogram. (Math.) See Gnomon. — In her complement (Her.), said of the moon when represented as full.

Com′ple·ment, v. t. 1. To supply a lack; to supplement. [R.]

2. To compliment. [Obs.] Jer. Taylor.