Main Entry: ¹flat·ter

Pronunciation: \ˈfla-tər\

Function: verb

Etymology: Middle English flateren, from Anglo-French flater to lap, flatter, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German flaz flat

Date: 13th century

transitive verb 1 : to praise excessively especially from motives of self-interest
2 a archaic : beguile 4 b : to encourage or gratify especially with the assurance that something is right <I flatter myself that my interpretation is correct>
3 a : to portray too favorably <the portrait flatters him> b : to display to advantage <candlelight often flatters the face>intransitive verb : to use flattery

— flat·ter·er \-tər-ər\ noun

— flat·ter·ing·ly \-tər-iŋ-lē\ adverb