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. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. That which is required to supply a deficiency, or to complete a symmetrical whole. [ 1913 Webster ] History is the complement of poetry. Sir J. Stephen. [ 1913 Webster ] 3. Full quantity, number, or amount; a complete set; completeness. [ 1913 Webster ] To exceed his complement and number appointed him which was one hundred and twenty persons. Hakluyt. [ 1913 Webster ] 4. (Math.) A second quantity added to a given quantity to make it equal to a third given quantity. [ 1913 Webster ] 5. Something added for ornamentation; an accessory. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ] Without vain art or curious complements. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ] 6. (Naut.) The whole working force of a vessel. [ 1913 Webster ] 7. (Mus.) The interval wanting to complete the octave; -- the fourth is the complement of the fifth, the sixth of the third. [ 1913 Webster ] 8. A compliment. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]
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
Complement of an 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. [ 1913 Webster ]
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