ingratiate

WOTD – 7 June 2007    

English

Etymology

First attested in 1622. From Italian ingraziare, which from ingratiare, which from in gratia, which from Latin in grātiam (into favour), which from grātus.

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ɪnˈɡreɪ.ʃi.eɪt/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -eɪʃieɪt

Verb

ingratiate (third-person singular simple present ingratiates, present participle ingratiating, simple past and past participle ingratiated)

1. (reflexive) to bring oneself into favour with someone by flattering or trying to please them.

   The court jester isn't exactly ingratiating himself to the king, with his insults.

Related terms

• ingratiating (adjective)
• ingratiation (noun)

Translations

get favor through flattery

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 討好 (cmn), 讨好 (cmn) (tǎohǎo), 奉承 (cmn) (fèngchéng)

• Dutch: bemind maken (nl),in het gevlei komen (nl)
• Finnish: mielistellä (fi)
• French: se faire aimer (fr)
• German: einschmeicheln (de)
• Japanese: 満たす (mitasu)

• Latin: grātiam inīre ab
• Norwegian: innynde (no) seg, smiske (no)
• Russian: обхаживать (кого-либо) в корыстных целях; втираться (к кому-либо) в доверие
• Spanish: congraciarse (es)
• Swedish: ställa sig in