An alternative spelling and pronunciation of complin, the final prayer service of the day in Christian monasteries and churches.
A variant spelling of 'complin' that emerged in Middle English, also from Latin 'completa.' Both spellings coexist in religious texts, with 'compline' becoming more common in modern English ecclesiastical usage.
The two spellings (complin/compline) show how medieval scribes weren't strict about spelling—both versions appear in ancient manuscripts because Latin-based words were pronounced differently across regions. This word survived because entire communities structured their days around it.
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