Excessive admiration or praise; obsequious flattery.
From Latin 'adulatio,' from 'adulari' meaning 'to flatter like a dog.' The root suggests the tail-wagging, fawning behavior of dogs seeking approval from their masters.
Picture an 'adult' acting like a puppy dog, tail wagging for attention — that's adulation! The Latin root literally compares excessive praise to a dog's fawning behavior. It's praise so over-the-top it becomes undignified.
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