with the author's compliments; requesting a favorable review
A formal, somewhat archaic phrase used when presenting a book or manuscript, asking the recipient for a favorable review or high evaluation. Rare in modern everyday language; mostly encountered in literary or academic contexts.
The author inscribed 'with the author's compliments' on the new book and gave it to an acquaintance.
Compound of 乞 (request) + 高 (high) + 評 (evaluation). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but it follows classical Chinese-style phrasing used in literary circles.