flatter

English

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈflætɚ/,
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈflætə/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ætə(ɹ)
• Hyphenation: flat‧ter

Etymology 1

From flat +‎ -er (comparative suffix). Compare Icelandic flatari (“flatter, more flat”).

Adjective

flatter

1. comparative form of flat: more flat

Etymology 2

• 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-Germanic *flutrōną (“to be floating”), from Proto-Indo-European *plewd- (“to flow, swim”); 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 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”), *flataz (“flat”), from Proto-Indo-European *plÁt-, *pele-, *plāk- (“flat, broad, plain”); related to Old High German flazza (“palm, flat of the hand”), Old High German flaz (“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.

Verb

flatter (third-person singular simple present flatters, present participle flattering, simple past and past participle flattered) (transitive, intransitive)

1. To compliment someone, often (but not necessarily) insincerely and sometimes to win favour.
   • 1611, The Holy Bible,  (King James Version), London: Robert Barker, , →OCLC, Proverbs 29:5:

     A man that flattereth his neighbour spreadeth a net for his feet.

   • 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.

2. To enhance or gratify someone's vanity by praising them.

   Synonym: stroke someone's ego

3. To portray someone to advantage.

   Her portrait flatters her.

   • 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 Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, :

     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 […]

4. To encourage or cheer someone with (usually false) hope.
   • 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:

     […] 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.

5. (usually reflexive) To cheer or please (with the idea that)

   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!

   • 1593, [William Shakespeare], Venus and Adonis, London: Richard Field, , →OCLC; Shakespeare’s Venus & Adonis: ‎, 4th edition, London: J M Dent and Co. , 1896, →OCLC:

     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.

     The spelling has been modernized.

   1. (obsolete, intransitive) In phrasal verb "to flatter with": to encourage, inspire with hope.
      • 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 Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, , page 287, column 2:

        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:

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

Etymology 3

From flat (“to make flat, flatten”) +‎ -er (agent suffix).

Noun

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flatter (plural flatters)

1. A type of set tool used by blacksmiths.
2. A flat-faced fulling hammer.
3. A drawplate with a narrow, rectangular orifice, for drawing flat strips such as watch springs.
4. Someone who flattens, purposely or accidentally. Also flattener.

Translations

Etymology 4

From flat (“dwelling, apartment”) +‎ -er (residency suffix).

Noun

flatter (plural flatters)

1. (British, New Zealand, slang) Someone who lives in a rented flat.

French

Etymology

Inherited from 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”), *flataz (“flat”), from Proto-Indo-European *plÁt-, *pele-, *plet-, *plāk- (“flat, broad, plain”). Cognate with Old High German flazza (“palm, flat of the hand”), Old High German flaz (“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, flétrir.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /fla.te/

• Audio

  (file)

Verb

flatter

1. to flatter
2. to pet, to caress

Conjugation

Derived terms

• flatterie
• flatteur

Further reading

• “flatter”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé , 2012.

German

Pronunciation

• Audio

  (file)

Verb

flatter

1. inflection of flattern:
   1. first-person singular present
   2. singular imperative

Middle French

Verb

flatter

1. to flatter

Conjugation

• Middle French conjugation varies from one text to another. Hence, the following conjugation should be considered as typical, not as exhaustive.