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Flatter
Definitions
- 1 comparative form of flat: more flat comparative, form-of
- 1 A type of set tool used by blacksmiths. ambitransitive
- 2 Someone who lives in a rented flat. British, New-Zealand, ambitransitive, slang
- 3 A flat-faced fulling hammer. ambitransitive
- 4 A drawplate with a narrow, rectangular orifice, for drawing flat strips such as watch springs. ambitransitive
- 5 Someone who flattens, purposely or accidentally. Also flattener. ambitransitive
- 1 To compliment someone, often (but not necessarily) insincerely and sometimes to win favour. ambitransitive
"A man that flattereth his neighbour spreadeth a net for his feet."
- 2 praise somewhat dishonestly wordnet
- 3 To enhance or gratify someone's vanity by praising them. ambitransitive
- 4 To portray someone to advantage. ambitransitive
"Her portrait flatters her."
- 5 To encourage or cheer someone with (usually false) hope. ambitransitive
"[…] I went up, and sat there two Hours and an half before I cou’d discern any Thing like Land; and when I first saw it I told my Comrade, but not being certain I wou’d not call out; for the Case was of such Importance, that they were not to be trifled with, or flatter’d into vain Hopes."
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- 6 To cheer or please (with the idea that); congratulate oneself, especially when the perception is false. ambitransitive, reflexive, usually
"Before the results came out, I flattered myself that I had done well on the test. It turned out I was the worst in the class!"
- 7 To cheer or please (with the idea that); congratulate oneself, especially when the perception is false.; In phrasal verb "to flatter with": to encourage, inspire with hope. ambitransitive, intransitive, obsolete, reflexive, usually
"Run after that ſame peeuiſh Meſſenger / The Countes man: he left this Ring behinde him / Would I, or not: tell him, Ile none of it. / Deſire him not to flatter with his Lord, / Nor hold him vp with hopes, I am not for him:"
Etymology
From flat + -er (comparative suffix). Compare Icelandic flatari (“flatter, more flat”).
*From Middle English flatteren, flateren (“to flutter, float, fawn over”), probably a conflation of Old English floterian, flotorian (“to flutter, float, be disquieted”), from Proto-West Germanic *flotrōn, from Proto-Germanic *flutrōną (“to be floating”), from Proto-Indo-European *plewd- (“to flow, swim”), equivalent to float + -er; and Old Norse flaðra (“to fawn on someone, flatter”), from Proto-Germanic *flaþrōną (“to fawn over, flutter”), from Proto-Indo-European *peled- (“moisture, wetness”), *pel- (“to gush, pour out, fill, flow, swim, fly”). Cognate with Scots flatter, flotter (“to float; splash; cover with liquid”), Middle Dutch flatteren (“to embellish, flatter, caress”), German flattern (“to flutter”). *The word was also falsely associated with Middle French flatter (“to flatter, to caress with the flat of the hand”), from Old French flater (“to deceive by concealing the truth, to stroke with the palm of the hand”), from Frankish *flat (“palm, flat of the hand”), from Proto-Germanic *flatą, *flatō (“palm, sole”), from *flataz (“flat”), probably from Proto-Indo-European *pleth₂-, *pleh₂- (“flat, broad, plain”); related to Old High German flazza (“palm, flat of the hand”), Old High German flaz (“level, flat”), Old Saxon flat (“flat”), Old Norse flatr (“flat”) (whence English flat), Old Frisian flet, flette (“dwelling, house”), Old English flet, flett (“ground floor, dwelling”). More at flat.
From flat (“to make flat, flatten”) + -er (agent suffix).
From flat (“dwelling, apartment”) + -er (residency suffix).
See also for "flatter"
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