a. and sb. Forms: see COMPLAIN v. [a. F pr. pple. (also used subst.) of complaindre: see COMPLAIN v. and -ANT.]
† A. adj. Law. Formally complaining, lodging a legal complaint. Obs.
1495. Act 11 Hen. VII., c. 7 § 4. If the partie compleynant … can not prove the mater of his seid bill to be true.
1568. Grafton, Chron., II. 643. I beyng the partie griefed, and complaynant.
1583. Stocker, Civ. Warres Lowe C., II. 35 b. The said partie complainant to be bounde, [etc.].
B. sb.
1. Law. One who enters a legal complaint against another; a plaintiff or prosecutor, in Chancery or Ecclesiastical courts.
1495. Act 11 Hen. VII., c. 7 § 4. The same compleynaunt, not provyng the mater of his seid bill to be true.
1553. T. Wilson, Rhet., 47. The complainaunt commenseth his action, and defendaunt thereupon aunswereth.
1660. R. Coke, Power & Subj., 78. A divorce … is grantable to separate the complainant a mensa et thoro.
1707. Lond. Gaz., No. 4315/3. A Cause wherein Christopher Pitt and others … were Complainants against Sir Charles Bickerstaffe.
1824. Syd. Smith, Wks. (1859), II. 186/1. A Judge … placed … between the complainant and him against whom it is complained.
2. gen. One who complains, a complainer.
1525. Ld. Berners, Froiss., II. xvi. 32. He wolde nat departe … tyll all the complaynantes were fully satisfyed.
1581. Mulcaster, Positions, xli. (1887), 254. It is not my complaint, though I ioyne with the complainantes.
1612–5. Bp. Hall, Contempl. N. T., IV. xv. Christ is left alone; alone in respect of these complaynants.
1858. Carlyle, Fredk. Gt. (1865), I. III. iii. 148. No want of complaint, nor of complainants.
b. spec. One who complains of ill-health.
1861. H. Spencer, Educ., iv. 175. [As] she had no energy left for exercise, she is, now that she has finished her education, a constant complainant.
