To praise excessively or flattery someone in an extreme, exaggerated manner.
From 'be-' (intensive prefix) plus 'laud' (from Latin laudare, meaning 'to praise'). The combination creates a verb meaning to praise excessively, following the same intensive pattern as 'berate' (excessive criticism).
English has both 'belaud' and 'berate'—excessive praise and excessive blame—showing how the 'be-' prefix could swing in either direction to intensify emotional or evaluative speech.
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