To praise someone excessively or insincerely, often to gain favor or advantage.
From Old French 'flater,' meaning 'to stroke with the hand' or 'to caress,' which came from a Frankish word meaning 'to stroke smoothly.' Originally, it was a literal physical action — like petting an animal to calm it. The metaphorical meaning of 'stroking someone's ego' with smooth words developed because the verbal action was seen as similar to the physical stroking. The connection between physical smoothing and verbal smoothing gave us both meanings.
Flattery literally started as petting! The word originally meant stroking someone with your hand to soothe them, like calming a nervous horse. Medieval people noticed that smooth, soothing words had the same effect as gentle physical stroking, so they used the same word for both. When someone 'flatters' you with compliments, they're essentially giving your ego a verbal pet.
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