in complement

English

Phrase

in complement

1. (heraldry, of a moon) Full and fully illuminated.
   • 1912, Allen Phoebe, Peeps at Heraldry, page 33:

     The sixth Bishop of Ely had very curious arms, for he bore both sun and moon on his shield, the sun "in his splendour" and the moon "in her complement".

Usage notes

• Often found with pronouns (a moon in her complement or in its complement).