flatter

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See also: flåtter

English

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Pronunciation

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Etymology 1

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From flat +‎ -er (comparative suffix). Compare Icelandic flatari (flatter, more flat).

Adjective

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flatter

  1. comparative form of flat: more flat

Etymology 2

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Verb

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flatter (third-person singular simple present flatters, present participle flattering, simple past and past participle flattered) (transitive, intransitive)

  1. To compliment someone, often (but not necessarily) insincerely and sometimes to win favour.
  2. To enhance or gratify someone's vanity by praising them.
    Synonym: stroke someone's ego
  3. To portray someone to advantage.
    Her portrait flatters her.
  4. To encourage or cheer someone with (usually false) hope.
    • 1743, Robert Drury, The Pleasant, and Surprizing Adventures of Mr. Robert Drury, during his Fifteen Years Captivity on the Island of Madagascar[2], London, page 9:
      [] I went up, and sat there two Hours and an half before I cou’d discern any Thing like Land; and when I first saw it I told my Comrade, but not being certain I wou’d not call out; for the Case was of such Importance, that they were not to be trifled with, or flatter’d into vain Hopes.
  5. (usually reflexive) To cheer or please (with the idea that); congratulate oneself, especially when the perception is false.
    Before the results came out, I flattered myself that I had done well on the test. It turned out I was the worst in the class!
    1. (obsolete, intransitive) In phrasal verb "to flatter with": to encourage, inspire with hope.
Derived terms
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Translations
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Etymology 3

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From flat (to make flat, flatten) +‎ -er (agent suffix).

Noun

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flatter (plural flatters)

  1. A type of set tool used by blacksmiths.
  2. A flat-faced fulling hammer.
  3. A drawplate with a narrow, rectangular orifice, for drawing flat strips such as watch springs.
  4. Someone who flattens, purposely or accidentally. Also flattener.
Translations
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Etymology 4

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From flat (dwelling, apartment) +‎ -er (residency suffix).

Noun

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flatter (plural flatters)

  1. (British, New Zealand, slang) Someone who lives in a rented flat.

French

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Etymology

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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

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Verb

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flatter

  1. to flatter
  2. to pet, to caress

Conjugation

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Derived terms

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Further reading

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German

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Pronunciation

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Verb

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flatter

  1. inflection of flattern:
    1. first-person singular present
    2. singular imperative

Middle French

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Verb

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flatter

  1. to flatter

Conjugation

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  • Middle French conjugation varies from one text to another. Hence, the following conjugation should be considered as typical, not as exhaustive.