Fawning

Part of speech: adjective, verb

Pronunciation: /fɔːnɪŋ/

Definitions

1. Demonstrating insincere affection or admiration for someone while seeking their favor, often through subservient actions or attitudes
2. Displaying an overtly ingratiating attitude marked by obsequiousness, often aimed at winning someone’s approval or favor
3. Exhibiting an overly flattering or submissive behavior in order to please or gain advantage with someone

Etymology: The verb "fawn" has two unrelated origins, and the flattering sense comes from the less obvious one. The older English root meant "to celebrate" or "rejoice." In Old English, "fagnian" (also written "fæġnian") meant to rejoice, and it is related to the Old Norse "fagna" and to "fain," once a word for "glad" or "eager." Over time, to show gladness toward someone came to mean fawning on them, pressing close and seeking favor, with the sense of servile flattery arriving only later. The other "fawn," the young deer, comes from Old French "faon," from Latin "fetus," meaning offspring. English borrowed that sense and also gave it an older native counterpart, "hindcealf," literally "deer calf." This is a different word entirely, which is why the two have no real semantic link, despite sharing a spelling.

Synonyms: flattering, obsequious, subservient, sycophantic, ingratiating

Antonyms: disdainful, scornful, haughty