Flattery

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈflæt.ə.ɹi/

Definitions

1. Insincere praise given to someone in order to gain favor or manipulate them into doing something
2. Excessive or insincere admiration directed at an individual, often used to influence or persuade that person to act in a desired way
3. The act of giving unwarranted or exaggerated compliments to another, typically aimed at gaining their approval or assistance

Etymology: The most useful thing to know about "flattery" is that its root verb, "flatter," once meant something quite physical. Old French "flater" was tied to the idea of stroking or smoothing with the flat of the hand, and that caress-like sense carried over into the figurative flattering of a person's vanity. The noun arrived in Middle English as "flaterye" and "flaterie," borrowed through Old French "flaterie," and the word has kept that sense of smoothing someone over rather than telling them the truth. The word is built in a straightforward way: the verb "flatter" plus the suffix "-y," which forms abstract nouns from verbs and adjectives. So "flattery" is literally the act or quality of flattering, and the suffix is what turned an action into a thing you can practise or be accused of.

Synonyms: praise, compliment, adoration

Antonyms: criticism, disparagement, insult