Word of the day: Complaisant

Complaisant

[kəm-PLAY-sənt]

Part of speech: adjective

Origin: French, mid-17th century

Willing to please others; obliging; agreeable.

Examples of complaisant in a sentence

"Larger breeds of dogs tend to be incredibly sweet and complaisant pets."

"The dentist found that her new receptionist was both competent and complaisant."

About Complaisant

This word developed in French from the word "complaire" ("acquiesce in order to please"), but originally came from the Latin word "complacere" ("to please").

Did you Know?

While "complaisant" is similar in spelling and in pronunciation to the word "complacent," they have different meanings. Both "complaisant" and "complacent" come from the Latin word "complacere" ("to please"), but each word has evolved to address different aspects of this root. "Complaisant" describes a sense of being willing to please others, while "complacent" means being self-satisfied with one's personal accomplishments — often in a negative sense, as in they are unmotivated to move on.