Third-person singular present tense: to persuade or manipulate someone using flattery, promises, or gentle pressure.
From French 'cajoler,' the verb form of 'cajolery.' The verb entered English in the 17th century as a diplomatic term for subtle persuasion techniques.
Cajole is the verb form that appears in countless historical letters and diplomatic documents—it's how courtiers described their attempts to influence powerful people without seeming pushy or disrespectful. The word perfectly captures the dance of social manipulation that was essential to survival in royal courts.
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