Dictionary

collogue en · VERB

Pronunciation

• /kɒˈləʊɡ/ (Received-Pronunciation)

Etymology

First attested in 1590s (as colloguing), presumably from colleague (“to associate”) and French colloque (“secret meeting”), from Latin colloquium (English colloquy), possibly influenced by dialogue. Ultimately from Latin collega (“a partner in office”) + Ancient Greek λόγος (lógos, “speech; oration; discourse”), perhaps partly via Latin loquor (“to speak”).

Meanings

1. (transitive) To coax (someone); also, to flatter (someone).
2. (intransitive) To simulate belief.
3. (intransitive, rare) To talk privately or secretly; to conspire.
   • You let Dunsey have it, sir? And how long have you been so thick with Dunsey that you must collogue with him to embezzle my money? 1861, George Eliot [pseudonym; Mary Ann Evans], Silas Marner: The Weaver of Raveloe, Edinburgh; London: William Blackwood and Sons, →OCLC:
   • Ay, well, what I say - " Flusky frowned, endeavouring to put into words just what he did say, when he collogued with his own thoughts. "What I say: in a country where everything's to do, the hands has a chance to put themselves equal with the head." 1937, Helen Simpson, Under Capricorn:
   • "I see him," said the housemaid. "He was colloguing with the butcher in the yard a bit since. He'd got a brown-paper parcel. Perhaps he got a lift home." 1904, E[dith] Nesbit, “The Road to Rome; or, The Silly Stowaway”, in New Treasure Seekers, London: Ernest Benn; New York, N.Y.: Coward-McCann, published 1962, →OCLC, page 23:
   • And then it seems that she collogued with her master and heard word of a subtler device. 1902 January, John Buchan, “The Outgoing of the Tide”, in The Watcher by the Threshold, and Other Tales, Edinburgh; London: William Blackwood and Sons, published 1902, →OCLC, page 240:
   • You dare to collogue about me with such a [contemnible] manner of speech?! 2022 November 18, Toontown: Corporate Clash Development Team, The Hires & Heroes Update (v1.3.0):

Forms

Synonyms

jolly · twist · fleech · gloze · soft-soap · soap · flatterize · tweedle · croodle · stroke · coax · canoodle · honey around · lay it on thick · cajole · soothe · stroke · blandander · fast-talk · lay it on thick · flatter · word · blandish · speak well of · butter up · collogue · puff · make fair weather · preen · brush up to · engle · palaver · wheedle · sweet-talk · ingle · sweeten · jolly · glaver · soft-sawder · whilly · hum · tickle the ear · carny · inveigle · puff · collogue · honey up