See Also: flatter(medicine)
flatter(1)(dictionary)
flatter(2)(dictionary)
flatter(dictionary)

flatter(2) (iou)



flatter verb1. ME.
[Origin unkn., perh. back-form. from FLATTERY.]
verb trans. Try to please or win the favour of by obsequious speech or conduct; pay obsequious attention to. ME.
Shakespeare Richard II I mock my name, great king, to flatter thee.
verb trans. Compliment unduly or insincerely, overpraise. ME.
Oxford English Dictionary 'Your beautiful voice' 'Ah! you are flattering me.' L. Steffens I did not flatter anybody: I told the truth as near as I could get it.
verb intrans. Of an animal, esp. a dog: display (apparent) pleasure or affection by tail-wagging, making a pleased sound, etc. LME-E17.
E. Topsell Dogges..who would fawn & gently flatter vpon all those which came..there.
b. verb trans. Touch or stroke lightly and caressingly. rare. L16-E18.
verb trans. Gratify the vanity or self-esteem of; make (a person) feel honoured; gratify (a person's vanity). LME.
W. H. Prescott Others he flattered by asking their advice. P. Ackroyd A very clever young man who flattered her self-regard by becoming infatuated with her.
verb trans. Encourage or cheer (a person) with hopeful or pleasing manifestations; inspire with (esp. unfounded) hope. LME.
W. H. Prescott Men had flattered themselves..with the expectation of some change for the better. absol.: Field Two furlongs from home Maiden Erlegh looked dangerous, but he flattered only to deceive.
b. Please or delude with the belief, idea, or suggestion that. Chiefly refl. L16.
H. James She flattered herself that she was a very just woman.
verb trans. Play upon the vanity or susceptibilities of (a person); beguile or persuade by blandishments; coax, wheedle. E16.
T. Fuller Or did he hope..to flatter Heaven into a consent?
verb trans. Beguile, charm away (sorrow etc.); charm to (tears etc.). arch. L16.
Shakespeare Richard III Flatter my sorrows with report of it.
verb trans. Of a painter, portrait, etc.: represent too favourably, exaggerate the good looks of. L16.
Horace Walpole Oliver..said to him '..I desire you..to paint my picture truly like me, and not flatter me.' absol.: Conan Doyle A good-looking woman, too, if the photograph does not flatter.
b. Show to the best advantage, make effective, emphasize the good points of. E20.
J. Cheever A grey silk dressa cloth and a color that flattered her.
verb trans. Gratify (the eye, ear, etc.). L17.
R. L. Stevenson The beauty of the stone flattered the young clergyman's eyes.
flatterer noun ME.
flattering ppl adjective that flatters;
flattering unction [Shakes. Haml.], a salve that one administers to one's own conscience or self-esteem: LME.
flatteringly adverb LME.