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flatter
From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
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See also: flåtter
English
Pronunciation
- (General American) IPA(key): /ˈflætɚ/, [ˈflæɾɚ]
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈflætə/
Audio (US): (file) - Rhymes: -ætə(ɹ)
- Hyphenation: flat‧ter
Etymology 1
From flat + -er (comparative suffix). Compare Icelandic flatari (“flatter, more flat”).
Adjective
flatter
- comparative form of flat: more flat
Etymology 2
- 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-Germanic *flutrōną (“to be floating”), from Proto-Indo-European *plewd- (“to flow, swim”); 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 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.
Verb
flatter (third-person singular simple present flatters, present participle flattering, simple past and past participle flattered) (ambitransitive)
- To compliment someone, often (but not necessarily) insincerely and sometimes to win favour.
- 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Proverbs 29:5:
- A man that flattereth his neighbour spreadeth a net for his feet.
- 1855, William H. Prescott, History of the Reign of Philip the Second, King of Spain, Boston: Phillips, Sampson & Co., Volume 1, Book 1, Chapter 7, p. 242,
- Some he complimented for their bravery; others he flattered by asking their advice.
- To enhance or gratify someone's vanity by praising them.
- Synonym: stroke someone's ego
- To portray someone to advantage.
- Her portrait flatters her.
- c. 1590–1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Two Gentlemen of Verona”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene iv]:
- Here is her picture: let me see; I think,
If I had such a tire, this face of mine
Were full as lovely as is this of hers:
And yet the painter flatter’d her a little […]
- To encourage or cheer someone with (usually false) hope.
- 1743, Robert Drury, The Pleasant, and Surprizing Adventures of Mr. Robert Drury, during his Fifteen Years Captivity on the Island of Madagascar, London, page 9:
- […] 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.
- (usually reflexive) To cheer or please (with the idea that); congratulate oneself, especially when the perception is false.
- 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!
- 1593, [William Shakespeare], Venus and Adonis, London: […] Richard Field, […], →OCLC:
- The dire imagination she did follow
This sound of hope doth labour to expel;
For now reviving joy bids her rejoice,
And flatters her it is Adonis’ voice.
- (obsolete, intransitive) In phrasal verb "to flatter with": to encourage, inspire with hope.
- c. 1601–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Twelfe Night, or What You Will”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene v], page 287, column 2:
- 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:
Derived terms
Related terms
Translations
to compliment someone
|
to enhance someone's vanity
|
to portray something to advantage
|
cheer someone with false hope
|
Etymology 3
From flat (“to make flat, flatten”) + -er (agent suffix).
Noun
flatter (plural flatters)
- A type of set tool used by blacksmiths.
- A flat-faced fulling hammer.
- A drawplate with a narrow, rectangular orifice, for drawing flat strips such as watch springs.
- Someone who flattens, purposely or accidentally. Also flattener.
Translations
Etymology 4
From flat (“dwelling, apartment”) + -er (residency suffix).
Noun
flatter (plural flatters)
- (British, New Zealand, slang) Someone who lives in a rented flat.
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French
Etymology
Inherited from 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”), *flataz (“flat”), from Proto-Indo-European *plÁt-, *pele-, *plet-, *plāk- (“flat, broad, plain”). Cognate with 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, flétrir.
Pronunciation
Verb
flatter
Conjugation
Conjugation of flatter (see also Appendix:French verbs)
Derived terms
Further reading
- “flatter”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.
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German
Pronunciation
Audio: (file)
Verb
flatter
- inflection of flattern:
Middle French
Verb
flatter
- to flatter
Conjugation
- Middle French conjugation varies from one text to another. Hence, the following conjugation should be considered as typical, not as exhaustive.
Conjugation of flatter
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