Flaterye

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Excessive or insincere praise offered to win someone's favor or to gain some advantage from them
2. Fawning compliments that are meant to please or manipulate the person who receives them
3. Insincere admiration lavished on someone, usually to win their approval or influence their behavior

Etymology: "Flaterye" is Middle English, a noun formed from the verb "flateren" ("to flatter") with the suffix "-ye," which came from Old French "-erie," used to form nouns of action or behaviour. The verb itself is thought to come from Old French "flatir" or "flater," meaning to smooth or stroke, and it may be related to "flat" in the sense of a level surface, though the exact connection is uncertain. The core idea is physical: to flatter someone was originally to stroke or smooth them, with the sense of caressing and soothing. Over time the sense moved from gentle touch toward insincere words, so that flattery came to mean praise offered to win favour rather than to express real admiration. The noun "flaterye" carries that same shift, naming the act itself.