v. Obs. Forms: 4 complyssen, 5 -pl(e)yssh(en, -pleisshe, -pless(h, 5–6 -plish(e, 6 complissh. [ME. complyss-en, a. compliss- extended stem of OF. complir to fill up, fulfil, accomplish = Pr. complir, Sp. cumplir, It. compiere, compire, repr. (with change of conjugation) L. complēre to fill up: see COMPLETE. In later times perh. sometimes aphetic for ACCOMPLISH.]
1. trans. To fill up, fill.
c. 1450. Merlin, iv. 61. Who shall fulfille the place that is voyde … he that shall a-complysshe that sete must also complysshe the voyde place at the table that Ioseph made.
2. To accomplish, fulfil.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Boeth., 124 Yif they myhte nat complyssen þat they coueyten.
c. 1400. Rom. Rose, 2132. To compleysshen and fulfille My comaundementis.
c. 1450. Paper Roll, in 3rd Rep. Comm. Hist. MSS. (1872), 279/1. The delivraunce of the seid Duke … which he complessed withoute other payements.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 27 b. Whan this mariage … shall be complisshed and performed.
1587. Turberv., Trag. T. (1837), 117. To complishe his request.
1596. Spenser, F. Q., V. xi. 41. Ye … kept [me] from complishing the faith which I did owe.
Hence Complishing vbl. sb.
1449. Will, in Churchw. Acc. St. George’s, Stamford (Nichols, 1797), 132. Mony … to be bestowed upon the complishyng and endyng of the said Chirch of Stamford.
