Complaisant and Complacent
Tricksy Twins
Some people in the English-speaking world pronounce ‘complaisant’ and ‘complacent’ in the same way. Others reminds us (and, indeed, themselves) of the difference between the two words by stressing the last syllable of each in a way that shines a spotlight on its peculiar features. Thus, they say the ‘cent’ in complacent as if they were speaking of a penny and start the ‘sant’ in complaisant with a bit of a buzz. However they handle their talking tackle, Anglophone folk who wish to distinguish between these tricksy twins may find it useful to trace each back to its French roots.
Complaisant comes from plaisant, which means ‘pleasing’. Thus, a complaisant person displays an eagerness to agree with, accommodate, oblige, and, perhaps, even go so far as to indulge, his fellow creatures. (By the way, when French folk say plaisant they also pay homage to the sounds made by the wings of melliferous insects.)
Complacent grew out of place, which, marvelous to say, is usually translated as ‘place’. Therefore, complacent people place great stock in their respective places in the world, often to the point where others see them as smug, self-satisfied, uncaring, or immovable.
To reduce this difference to a mnemonic device, the complaisant are more likely than the complacent to comply with a command to ‘buzz off’.
