flatter

See also: flåtter

English

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈflætɚ/, [ˈflæɾɚ]
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈflætə/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ætə(ɹ)
• Hyphenation: flat‧ter

Etymology 1

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

Adjective

flatter

1. 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-Germanic *flutrōną (“to be floating”), from Proto-Indo-European *plewd- (“to flow, swim”); 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 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”), *flataz (“flat”), from Proto-Indo-European *plÁt-, *pele-, *plāk- (“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) (transitive, intransitive)

1. To compliment someone, often (but not necessarily) insincerely and sometimes to win favour.
   • 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Proverbs 29:5:

     A man that flattereth his neighbour spreadeth a net for his feet.

   • 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.

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.

   • c. 1590–1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Two Gentlemen of Verona”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene iv]:

     Here is her picture: let me see; I think,
     If I had such a tire, this face of mine
     Were full as lovely as is this of hers:
     And yet the painter flatter’d her a little […]

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)

   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!

   • 1593, [William Shakespeare], Venus and Adonis, London: […] Richard Field, […], →OCLC; Shakespeare’s Venus & Adonis: […]‎^[3], 4th edition, London: J[oseph] M[alaby] Dent and Co. […], 1896, →OCLC:

     The dire imagination she did follow
     This sound of hope doth labour to expel;
     For now reviving joy bids her rejoice,
     And flatters her it is Adonis’ voice.

     The spelling has been modernized.

   1. (obsolete, intransitive) In phrasal verb "to flatter with": to encourage, inspire with hope.
      • c. 1601–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Twelfe Night, or What You Will”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene v], page 287, column 2:

        Run after that ſame peeuiſh Meſſenger / The Countes man: he left this Ring behinde him / Would I, or not: tell him, Ile none of it. / Deſire him not to flatter with his Lord, / Nor hold him vp with hopes, I am not for him:

Derived terms

• flatter oneself
• flatter to deceive

 

Related terms

• flatterer
• flattering
• flattery
• unflattering

 

Translations

to compliment someone

• Albanian: lajkatoj (sq)
• Arabic: تَمَلَّقَ (tamallaqa)
• Asturian: afalagar
• Belarusian: ліслі́віць impf (lislívicʹ), ле́сціць impf (ljéscicʹ), лісьці́ць impf (lisʹcícʹ)
• Bulgarian: ласка́я (bg) impf (laskája)
• Catalan: adular (ca), llagotejar (ca)
• Chinese:

  Hokkien: 諂媚／谄媚 (zh-min-nan) (thiám-bī), 扶挺 (zh-min-nan) (phô͘-tháⁿ)

  Mandarin: 討好／讨好 (zh) (tǎohǎo), 奉承 (zh) (fèngchéng), 阿谀 (zh) (ēyú)

• Czech: lichotit impf, pochlebovat impf
• Dutch: complimenteren (nl)
• Esperanto: flati (eo)
• Finnish: imarrella (fi), mielistellä (fi), nuoleskella (fi)
• French: flatter (fr)
• Galician: aloumiñar (gl), afagar
• German: schmeicheln (de)
• Greek: κολακεύω (el) (kolakévo)

  Ancient: κολακεύω (kolakeúō)

• Hebrew: החמיא (hiḥmí)
• Hungarian: hízeleg (hu)
• Irish: cuach
• Italian: lusingare (it), adulare (it)
• Japanese: 諂う (ja) (hetsurau), 追従する (ja) (tsuishō suru), 諂媚する (tembi suru)
• Korean: 아첨하다 (ko) (acheomhada), 아부하다 (ko) (abuhada), 치켜세우다 (ko) (chikyeose'uda), 알랑거리다 (ko) (allanggeorida)
• Latin: blandior, adulor
• Luxembourgish: blimmelen
• Macedonian: ласка impf (laska)
• Maori: patipati, ene
• Norwegian:

  Bokmål: smigre (no)

  Nynorsk: smigre (no)

• Old East Slavic: льстити impf (lĭstiti), лестити impf (lestiti)
• Ottoman Turkish: قولتقلامق (koltuklamak)
• Polish: schlebiać (pl) impf, pochlebiać (pl) impf
• Portuguese: adular (pt), bajular (pt)
• Romanian: flata (ro), complimenta (ro), măguli (ro), linguși (ro)
• Russian: льстить (ru) impf (lʹstitʹ), польсти́ть (ru) pf (polʹstítʹ)
• Serbo-Croatian:

  Cyrillic: ла̏скати impf

  Roman: lȁskati (sh) impf

• Slovak: lichotiť impf, pochlebovať impf
• Slovene: laskati impf
• Spanish: adular (es), halagar (es)
• Swedish: smickra (sv)
• Thai: ชม (th) (chom)
• Tok Pisin: grisim
• Ukrainian: лести́ти (uk) impf (lestýty), улещувати (uleščuvaty), облещувати (obleščuvaty), підлещати (pidleščaty), підлещувати (pidleščuvaty)
• Vietnamese: nịnh nọt (vi)
• Welsh: gwenieithio (cy), seboni (cy)

to enhance someone's vanity

• Asturian: afalagar, combayar
• Bulgarian: лаская (bg) (laskaja), превъзнасям (bg) (prevǎznasjam)
• Finnish: imarrella (fi)
• French: flatter (fr)
• Galician: aloumiñar (gl)
• German: anbiedern (de), einschmeicheln (de)
• Hungarian: legyezgeti a hiúságát
• Irish: bladair
• Italian: blandire (it), sviolinare (it), piaggiare (it)
• Latin: blandior
• Polish: schlebiać (pl), pochlebiać (pl)
• Russian: льстить (ru) impf (lʹstitʹ), раздува́ть чьё-либо э́го impf (razduvátʹ čʹjo-libo égo), разду́ть чьё-либо э́го pf (razdútʹ čʹjo-libo égo)
• Spanish: adular (es), lisonjear (es), lisonjear (es), incensar (es)
• Swedish: smickra (sv)
• Tok Pisin: grisim

to portray something to advantage

• Bulgarian: превъзнасям (bg) (prevǎznasjam)
• Catalan: afavorir (ca)
• Finnish: kaunistella (fi)
• French: flatter (fr)
• German: anbiedern (de)
• Greek: κολακεύω (el) (kolakévo)
• Hungarian: kedvező színben tüntet fel
• Italian: compiacere (it), vantare (it), incantare (it)
• Russian: льстить (ru) impf (lʹstitʹ), выгора́живать (ru) impf (vygoráživatʹ), вы́городить (ru) pf (výgoroditʹ)
• Spanish: retocar (es)

cheer someone with false hope

• Hungarian: hiteget (hu)

Etymology 3

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

Noun

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

hammer

• Polish: gładzik kowalski m
• Spanish: martillo (es) m

Etymology 4

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

Noun

flatter (plural flatters)

1. (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/

• Audio

  (file)

Verb

flatter

1. to flatter
2. to pet, to caress

Conjugation

Conjugation of flatter (see also Appendix:French verbs)

infinitive	simple	flatter
	compound	avoir + past participle
present participle or gerund1	simple	flattant /fla.tɑ̃/
	compound	ayant + past participle
past participle		flatté /fla.te/
		singular			plural
		first	second	third	first	second	third
indicative		je (j’)	tu	il, elle, on	nous	vous	ils, elles
(simple tenses)	present	flatte /flat/	flattes /flat/	flatte /flat/	flattons /fla.tɔ̃/	flattez /fla.te/	flattent /flat/
	imperfect	flattais /fla.tɛ/	flattais /fla.tɛ/	flattait /fla.tɛ/	flattions /fla.tjɔ̃/	flattiez /fla.tje/	flattaient /fla.tɛ/
	past historic2	flattai /fla.te/	flattas /fla.ta/	flatta /fla.ta/	flattâmes /fla.tam/	flattâtes /fla.tat/	flattèrent /fla.tɛʁ/
	future	flatterai /fla.tʁe/	flatteras /fla.tʁa/	flattera /fla.tʁa/	flatterons /fla.tʁɔ̃/	flatterez /fla.tʁe/	flatteront /fla.tʁɔ̃/
	conditional	flatterais /fla.tʁɛ/	flatterais /fla.tʁɛ/	flatterait /fla.tʁɛ/	flatterions /fla.tə.ʁjɔ̃/	flatteriez /fla.tə.ʁje/	flatteraient /fla.tʁɛ/
(compound tenses)	present perfect	present indicative of avoir + past participle
	pluperfect	imperfect indicative of avoir + past participle
	past anterior2	past historic of avoir + past participle
	future perfect	future of avoir + past participle
	conditional perfect	conditional of avoir + past participle
subjunctive		que je (j’)	que tu	qu’il, qu’elle	que nous	que vous	qu’ils, qu’elles
(simple tenses)	present	flatte /flat/	flattes /flat/	flatte /flat/	flattions /fla.tjɔ̃/	flattiez /fla.tje/	flattent /flat/
	imperfect2	flattasse /fla.tas/	flattasses /fla.tas/	flattât /fla.ta/	flattassions /fla.ta.sjɔ̃/	flattassiez /fla.ta.sje/	flattassent /fla.tas/
(compound tenses)	past	present subjunctive of avoir + past participle
	pluperfect2	imperfect subjunctive of avoir + past participle
imperative		–	tu	–	nous	vous	–
simple		—	flatte /flat/	—	flattons /fla.tɔ̃/	flattez /fla.te/	—
compound		—	simple imperative of avoir + past participle	—	simple imperative of avoir + past participle	simple imperative of avoir + past participle	—
1 The French gerund is usable only with the preposition en.
2 In less formal writing or speech, these tenses may be found to have been replaced in the following way: past historic → present perfect past anterior → pluperfect imperfect subjunctive → present subjunctive pluperfect subjunctive → past subjunctive (Christopher Kendris [1995], Master the Basics: French, pp. 77, 78, 79, 81).

Derived terms

• flatterie
• flatteur

Further reading

• “flatter”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.

German

Pronunciation

• Audio

  (file)

Verb

flatter

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

Middle French

Verb

flatter

1. to flatter

Conjugation

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

Conjugation of flatter

infinitive	simple	flatter
	compound	avoir + past participle
present participle1 or gerund2	simple	flattant
	compound	present participle or gerund of avoir + past participle
past participle		flatté
		singular			plural
		first	second	third	first	second	third
indicative		ie (i’)	tu	il, elle	nous	vous	ilz, elles
(simple tenses)	present	flatte	flattes	flatte	flattons	flattez	flattent
	imperfect	flattois, flattoys	flattois, flattoys	flattoit, flattoyt	flattions, flattyons	flattiez, flattyez	flattoient, flattoyent
	past historic	flatta	flattas	flatta	flattasmes	flattastes	flatterent
	future	flatterai, flatteray	flatteras	flattera	flatterons	flatterez	flatteront
	conditional	flatterois, flatteroys	flatterois, flatteroys	flatteroit, flatteroyt	flatterions, flatteryons	flatteriez, flatteryez	flatteroient, flatteroyent
(compound tenses)	present perfect	present indicative of avoir + past participle
	pluperfect	imperfect indicative of avoir + past participle
	past anterior	past historic of avoir + past participle
	future perfect	future of avoir + past participle
	conditional perfect	conditional of avoir + past participle
subjunctive		que ie (i’)	que tu	qu’il, qu’elle	que nous	que vous	qu’ilz, qu’elles
(simple tenses)	present	flatte	flattes	flatte	flattons	flattez	flattent
	imperfect	flattasse	flattasses	flattast	flattassions	flattassiez	flattassent
(compound tenses)	past	present subjunctive of avoir + past participle
	pluperfect	imperfect subjunctive of avoir + past participle
imperative		–	tu	–	nous	vous	–
simple		—	flatte	—	flattons	flattez	—
compound		—	simple imperative of avoir + past participle	—	simple imperative of avoir + past participle	simple imperative of avoir + past participle	—
1 The present participle was variable in gender and number until the 17th century (Anne Sancier-Château [1995], Une esthétique nouvelle: Honoré d'Urfé, correcteur de l'Astrée, p. 179). The French Academy would eventually declare it not to be declined in 1679.
2 The gerund was held to be invariable by grammarians of the early 17th century, and was usable with preposition en, as in Modern French, although the preposition was not mandatory (Anne Sancier-Château [1995], op. cit., p. 180).