COMPLAISANCE

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does complaisance mean? 

• COMPLAISANCE (noun)
  The noun COMPLAISANCE has 1 sense:

1. a disposition or tendency to yield to the will of others

  Familiarity information: COMPLAISANCE used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• COMPLAISANCE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A disposition or tendency to yield to the will of others

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

complaisance; compliance; compliancy; deference; obligingness

Hypernyms ("complaisance" is a kind of...):

agreeability; agreeableness (a temperamental disposition to be agreeable)

Derivation:

complaisant (showing a cheerful willingness to do favors for others)

 Context examples 

She must not be left to her own complaisance.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

He is, indeed; but, considering the inducement, my dear Miss Eliza, we cannot wonder at his complaisance—for who would object to such a partner?

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

She had never received from her more than outward attention, nothing beyond the observances of complaisance; had never succeeded in any point which she wanted to carry, against previous inclination.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

Fidelity and complaisance are the principal duties of both; and those men who do not choose to dance or marry themselves, have no business with the partners or wives of their neighbours.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

She could not respect his eye, but his love and his complaisance were unexceptionable.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

Did I imitate your forbearance, or lessen your restraints, by taking any part in those offices of general complaisance or particular gratitude which you had hitherto been left to discharge alone?

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

Anne had always felt that she would pretend what was proper on her arrival, but the complaisance of the others was unlooked for.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

On the gentlemen's appearing, her colour increased; yet she received them with tolerable ease, and with a propriety of behaviour equally free from any symptom of resentment or any unnecessary complaisance.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

They were three days on their journey, and Marianne's behaviour as they travelled was a happy specimen of what future complaisance and companionableness to Mrs. Jennings might be expected to be.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

Catherine's complaisance was no longer what it had been in their former airing.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)