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 verb1: to praise excessively especially from motives of self-interest2 aarchaic : 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