flatter

== English == === Pronunciation === (General American) IPA(key): /ˈflætɚ/, [ˈflæɾɚ] (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈflætə/ Rhymes: -ætə(ɹ) Hyphenation: flat‧ter === Etymology 1 === From flat +‎ -er (comparative suffix). Compare Icelandic flatari (“flatter, more flat”). ==== Adjective ==== flatter comparative form of flat: more flat === Etymology 2 === From Middle English flatteren, flateren (“to flutter, float, fawn over”), probably a conflation of Old English floterian, flotorian (“to flutter, float, be disquieted”), from Proto-West Germanic *flotrōn, from Proto-Germanic *flutrōną (“to be floating”), from Proto-Indo-European *plewd- (“to flow, swim”), equivalent to float +‎ -er; and Old Norse flaðra (“to fawn on someone, flatter”), from Proto-Germanic *flaþrōną (“to fawn over, flutter”), from Proto-Indo-European *peled- (“moisture, wetness”), *pel- (“to gush, pour out, fill, flow, swim, fly”). Cognate with Scots flatter, flotter (“to float; splash; cover with liquid”), Middle Dutch flatteren (“to embellish, flatter, caress”), German flattern (“to flutter”). The word was also falsely associated with Middle French flatter (“to flatter, to caress with the flat of the hand”), from Old French flater (“to deceive by concealing the truth, to stroke with the palm of the hand”), from Frankish *flat (“palm, flat of the hand”), from Proto-Germanic *flatą, *flatō (“palm, sole”), from *flataz (“flat”), probably from Proto-Indo-European *pleth₂-, *pleh₂- (“flat, broad, plain”); related to Old High German flazza (“palm, flat of the hand”), Old High German flaz (“level, flat”), Old Saxon flat (“flat”), Old Norse flatr (“flat”) (whence English flat), Old Frisian flet, flette (“dwelling, house”), Old English flet, flett (“ground floor, dwelling”). More at flat. ==== Verb ==== flatter (third-person singular simple present flatters, present participle flattering, simple past and past participle flattered) (ambitransitive) To compliment someone, often (but not necessarily) insincerely and sometimes to win favour. Synonyms: butter up, lay it on thick, puff; see also Thesaurus:flatter 1855, William H. Prescott, History of the Reign of Philip the Second, King of Spain, Boston: Phillips, Sampson & Co., Volume 1, Book 1, Chapter 7, p. 242,[1] Some he complimented for their bravery; others he flattered by asking their advice. To enhance or gratify someone's vanity by praising them. Synonym: stroke someone's ego To portray someone to advantage. To encourage or cheer someone with (usually false) hope. (usually reflexive) To cheer or please (with the idea that); congratulate oneself, especially when the perception is false. (obsolete, intransitive) In phrasal verb "to flatter with": to encourage, inspire with hope. ===== Derived terms ===== ===== Related terms ===== ===== Translations ===== === Etymology 3 === From flat (“to make flat, flatten”) +‎ -er (agent suffix). ==== Noun ==== flatter (plural flatters) A type of set tool used by blacksmiths. A flat-faced fulling hammer. A drawplate with a narrow, rectangular orifice, for drawing flat strips such as watch springs. Someone who flattens, purposely or accidentally. Also flattener. ===== Translations ===== === Etymology 4 === From flat (“dwelling, apartment”) +‎ -er (residency suffix). ==== Noun ==== flatter (plural flatters) (British, New Zealand, slang) Someone who lives in a rented flat. == French == === Etymology === Inherited from Middle French flatter (“to flatter, to caress with the flat of the hand”), from Old French flater (“to deceive by concealing the truth, to stroke with the palm of the hand”), from Frankish *flat (“palm, flat of the hand”), from Proto-Germanic *flatą, *flatō (“palm, sole”), *flataz (“flat”), from Proto-Indo-European *plÁt-, *pele-, *plet-, *plāk- (“flat, broad, plain”). Cognate with Old High German flazza (“palm, flat of the hand”), Old High German flaz (“level, flat”), Old Saxon flat (“flat”), Old Norse flatr (“flat”) (whence English flat), Old Frisian flet, flette (“dwelling, house”), Old English flet, flett (“ground floor, dwelling”). More at flat, flétrir. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /fla.te/ === Verb === flatter to flatter to pet, to caress ==== Conjugation ==== ==== Derived terms ==== flatterie flatteur === Further reading === “flatter”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012 == German == === Pronunciation === === Verb === flatter inflection of flattern: first-person singular present singular imperative == Middle French == === Verb === flatter to flatter ==== Conjugation ==== Middle French conjugation varies from one text to another. Hence, the following conjugation should be considered as typical, not as exhaustive.