Flāt'ter1, n.
n. 1. The person or thing by which any thing is flattened. 2. (Blacksmith's Work.) A flat swage.
2 entries under this word
Flatter
Flăt'ter2, v. t.
v. t. [imp. & p. p. FLATTERED; p. pr. & vb. n. FLATTERING.] [Icel. flaðra, Fr. flatter, Pr. flatar, from Icel. flatr, Sw. & Eng. flat; originally, to rub gently with the hand, to stroke, i. e., to make flat, level, or smooth. Cf. Icel. fletja, to level, smooth, O. D. fletsen, N. D. vleyden, vleyen, to flatter, fawn.]
Sense 1. To win the favoring attention of, by action expressly directed to that end, and especially by artful, insincere, or servile attentions; to gratify; to coax; to wheedle.
A place for pleasantness, not unfit to flatter solitariness. Sidney.
Music’s golden tongue Flattered to tears this aged man and poor. Keats.
Sense 2. To soothe by praise; to gratify the self-love, vanity, and pride of; to please by artful and interested commendation.
Others he flattered by asking their advice. Prescott.
Sense 3. To please with false hopes; to encourage by unfounded or deceitful representations.
Lay not that flattering unction to your soul. Shak.