A person who gives excessive compliments or praise, often insincerely, to gain favor or advantage.
From Old French 'flaterie,' possibly from 'flater' meaning to caress or deceive, with Germanic roots. The '-er' suffix indicates a person who performs the action. Medieval literature frequently warned against flatterers in royal courts.
Medieval and Renaissance courts had professional flatterers on staff—high-ranking nobles would keep them to deliver excessive praise in front of witnesses, making flattery an actual documented profession!
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.