complaindre

Complaindre is a term with very limited attestation in the French language and is not recognized as a standard verb in contemporary dictionaries. In modern usage, it is generally treated as an archaic or nonstandard spelling rather than a distinct lexical item.

When it does appear in historical or manuscript sources, complaindre is usually understood as a variant spelling related to plaindre (to pity) or as a mistaken form influenced by the related verb se plaindre (to complain). There is no widely agreed-upon sense that is separate from these standard forms, and editors often mark complaindre as a spelling variant rather than a separate entry.

Etymology for complaindre is not established in a way that is accepted across major lexicographic works. Because the form is so sparsely attested, it is typically discussed in the context of orthographic variation in early modern French rather than as a productive or current verb. Modern reference works generally advise readers to rely on plaindre and se plaindre for contemporary usage.

In lexicographic and philological studies, complaindre is seen as an example of historical spelling variation that arose from fluctuating orthographic practices before standardization. It serves more as a historical note illustrating the instability of spelling in older texts than as evidence of a living, distinct verb.