compleat, complete

The words compleat, complete sound the same but have different meanings and spellings. Why do compleat, complete sound the same even though they are completely different words?

The answer is simple: compleat, complete are homophones of the English language.

compleat
  1. :: adjective

    Of or characterized by a highly developed or wide-ranging skill or proficiency: "The compleat speechwriter ... comes to anonymity from Harvard Law” ( Israel Shenker).

  2. :: adjective

    Being an outstanding example of a kind; quintessential: "Here was the compleat modern misfit: the very air appeared to poison him; his every step looked treacherous and hard won” ( Stephen Schiff).

complete
  1. :: adjective

    Having all necessary or normal parts, components, or steps; entire: a complete meal.

  2. :: adjective

    Botany Having all principal parts, namely, the sepals, petals, stamens, and pistil or pistils. Used of a flower.

  3. :: adjective

    Having come to an end; concluded.

  4. :: adjective

    Absolute; total: "In Cairo I have seen buildings which were falling down as they were being put up, buildings whose incompletion was complete” ( William H. Gass).

Definitions from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition and Wordnik.

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About Homophones

Homophones (literally "same sound") are usually defined as words that share the same pronunciation, regardless of how they are spelled.

If they are spelled the same then they are also homographs (and homonyms); if they are spelled differently then they are also heterographs (literally "different writing").