Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.
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 flaȥ (“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.
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.
A man that flattereth his neighbour spreadeth a net for his feet.1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Proverbs 29:5:
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 […]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]:
Her portrait flatters her.
[…] 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.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:
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.1593, [William Shakespeare], Venus and Adonis, London: […] Richard Field, […], →OCLC:
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!
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: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:
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| flattering | Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| flattered | Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| flattered | Tense=Past | lexicographic | |
| flatters | Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres | lexicographic |
flatterize · flattersome · flatter oneself · flatterable · flatteress · flatter to deceive · beflatter · outflatter · unflatter · flatterous · overflatter
coax · beslaver · beflatter · adulate · overpraise · daub · blow sunshine up someone's ass · suck up · overflatter · beslubber
unflattering · flattering · flattery · flatterer · glorify · allure · woo
stroke · collogue · stroke someone's ego · preen · puff · soothe · lay it on thick · lay it on thick · puff · make fair weather · brush up to · palaver · glaver · flatterize · jolly · speak well of · flatter · butter up · gloze · tickle the ear
ota قولتقلامق (to compliment someone) · de einschmeicheln (to enhance someone's vanity) · ast afalagar (to compliment someone) · gl aloumiñar (to enhance someone's vanity) · ast afalagar (to enhance someone's vanity) · ro linguși (to compliment someone) · cy seboni (to compliment someone) · mk ласка (to compliment someone) · fi imarrella (to compliment someone) · hu hiteget (cheer someone with false hope) · sk lichotiť (to compliment someone) · es halagar (to compliment someone) · ro flata (to compliment someone) · fr flatter (to compliment someone) · ru разду́ть чьё-либо э́го (to enhance someone's vanity) · ga cuach (to compliment someone) · it piaggiare (to enhance someone's vanity) · gl afagar (to compliment someone) · pl schlebiać (to enhance someone's vanity) · be лісьці́ць (to compliment someone) · ko 아부하다 (to compliment someone) · uk лести́ти (to compliment someone) · vi nịnh nọt (to compliment someone) · ca afalagar (to compliment someone) · sh ла̏скати (to compliment someone) · sv smickra (to enhance someone's vanity) · es incensariar (to enhance someone's vanity) · no smigre (to compliment someone) · hu legyezgeti a hiúságát (to enhance someone's vanity) · nl complimenteren (to compliment someone) · sq lajkatoj (to compliment someone) · pl pochlebiać (to compliment someone) · ko 아첨하다 (to compliment someone) · ru выгора́живать (to portray something to advantage) · oc flatar (to compliment someone) · nan-hbl 扶挺 (to compliment someone) · sk pochlebovať (to compliment someone) · ru льстить (to portray something to advantage) · ast combayar (to enhance someone's vanity) · la adulor (to compliment someone) · nan-hbl 諂媚 /谄媚 (to compliment someone) · cmn 阿谀 (to compliment someone) · pt adular (to compliment someone) · tpi grisim (to enhance someone's vanity) · ru вы́городить (to portray something to advantage) · uk підлещати (to compliment someone) · orv льстити (to compliment someone) · ca afavorir (to portray something to advantage) · bg превъзнасям (to enhance someone's vanity) · grc κολακεύω (to compliment someone) · de schmeicheln (to compliment someone) · be ліслі́віць (to compliment someone) · es falagar (to compliment someone) · no smigre (to compliment someone) · es lisonjear (to enhance someone's vanity) · de anbiedern (to portray something to advantage) · th ชม (to compliment someone) · ja 諂媚する (to compliment someone) · oc adular (to compliment someone) · it sviolinare (to enhance someone's vanity) · ru раздува́ть чьё-либо э́го (to enhance someone's vanity) · fr flatter (to portray something to advantage) · de anbiedern (to enhance someone's vanity) · it compiacere (to portray something to advantage) · cy gwenieithio (to compliment someone) · bg лаская (to enhance someone's vanity) · cmn 奉承 (to compliment someone) · fi mielistellä (to compliment someone) · la blandior (to enhance someone's vanity) · sv smickra (to compliment someone) · bg ласка́я (to compliment someone) · lb blimmelen (to compliment someone) · it incantare (to portray something to advantage) · es franelear (to enhance someone's vanity) · el κολακεύω (to portray something to advantage) · uk облещувати (to compliment someone) · ar تَبَصْبَصَ (to compliment someone) · mi patipati (to compliment someone) · es requebrar (to compliment someone) · fi kaunistella (to portray something to advantage) · fi imarrella (to enhance someone's vanity) · es incensar (to enhance someone's vanity) · it vantare (to portray something to advantage) · el κολακεύω (to compliment someone) · ru льстить (to enhance someone's vanity) · pl schlebiać (to compliment someone) · la blandior (to compliment someone) · cmn 討好 /讨好 (to compliment someone) · orv лестити (to compliment someone) · bg превъзнасям (to portray something to advantage) · ru польсти́ть (to compliment someone) · he החמיא (to compliment someone) · hu hízeleg (to compliment someone) · sh lȁskati (to compliment someone) · it blandire (to enhance someone's vanity) · ko 알랑거리다 (to compliment someone) · tpi grisim (to compliment someone) · nl vleien (to enhance someone's vanity) · ja 諂う (to compliment someone) · fr flatter (to enhance someone's vanity) · ar تَمَلَّقَ (to compliment someone) · ko 치켜세우다 (to compliment someone) · hu kedvező színben tüntet fel (to portray something to advantage) · be ле́сціць (to compliment someone) · ca llagotejar (to compliment someone) · gl aloumiñar (to compliment someone) · pl pochlebiać (to enhance someone's vanity) · eo flati (to compliment someone) · ro măguli (to compliment someone) · fi nuoleskella (to compliment someone) · sl laskati (to compliment someone) · it adulare (to compliment someone) · es retocar (to portray something to advantage) · ca adular (to compliment someone) · kix ùoh (to compliment someone) · pt bajular (to compliment someone) · ro complimenta (to compliment someone) · ga bladair (to enhance someone's vanity) · mi ene (to compliment someone) · uk улещувати (to compliment someone) · it lusingare (to compliment someone) · uk підлещувати (to compliment someone) · cs lichotit (to compliment someone) · ja 追従する (to compliment someone) · ru льстить (to compliment someone) · cs pochlebovat (to compliment someone)
Etymology tree English flat Proto-Indo-European *-yósder. Proto-Italic *-āzios Latin -āriusnom. Latin -āriusbor. Proto-Germanic *-ārijaz Proto-West Germanic *-ārī Old English -ere Middle English -ere English -er English flatter From flat (“to make flat, flatten”) + -er (agent suffix).
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| flatters | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
es martillo (hammer) · pl gładzik kowalski (hammer)
From flat (“dwelling, apartment”) + -er (residency suffix).
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| flatters | Number=Plur | lexicographic |