different between forgiving vs complaisant

English

Adjective

forgiving (comparative more forgiving, superlative most forgiving)

1. Inclined to forgive.

   I am inclined to take a forgiving attitude, since this is his first offence.

2. (computing) User-friendly, such that harmful mistakes are not easily made.
   • 2010, Roger S. Pressman, Software Engineering: A Practitioner's Approach (page 336)

     A good WebApp interface is understandable and forgiving, providing the user with a sense of control. […] Work is carefully and continuously saved, with full option for the user to undo any activity at any time.

Translations

Verb

forgiving

1. present participle of forgive

Noun

forgiving (plural forgivings)

1. An act of forgiveness.

English

Etymology

From French complaisant (“willing to please”), from complaire, from Latin complac?re, present active infinitive of complace? (“please well”), from com- (“with”) + place? (“please”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /k?m?ple?s?nt/
• Homophone: complacent
• (US) IPA^(key): /k?m?ple?s?nt/, /k?m?ple?z?nt/

Adjective

complaisant (comparative more complaisant, superlative most complaisant)

1. Compliant.
2. Willing to do what pleases others; obliging.
3. (archaic) Polite; showing respect.

Usage notes

• Complaisant should not be confused with its homophone, complacent.

Derived terms

• complaisantly

Related terms

• complaisance

Translations

French

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /k??.pl?.z??/

Verb

complaisant

1. present participle of complaire

Adjective

complaisant (feminine singular complaisante, masculine plural complaisants, feminine plural complaisantes)

1. complaisant, obliging, eager to please

Derived terms

• mari complaisant

Further reading

• “complaisant” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).