Complaining has never had a positive meaning. It comes to us through the Latin verb plangere, and it originally meant to "hit," metaphorically to "beat one's breast." Today it means the utterance of pain, displeasure, or annoyance. It also means an illness or ailment, and in legal terms, it is a formal charge or accusation. In English slang, it is to quibble, raise a fuss, yammer, squawk, bitch, bewail, moan and groan, bellyache, carp, nag, pick at, give someone a hard time, find fault, gripe, whine, and fret.
- From A Complaint is a Gift: Using Customer Feedback as a Strategic Tool by Janelle Barlow and Claus Moller
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