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Where does the word "flatter" come from? It comes from Frankish flat, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).
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Where does the word "flatter" come from? It comes from Frankish flat, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).
Flatter’s story begins in Frankish: flat meant “flat.” A Frankish word for smooth or flat. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as flater. Smoothing someone down with praise. It reached English by 1200s as flatter. 'flattering' clothes date from the 1900s. Today, flatter means to praise excessively.
- Stage 1 · Frankish · ancient flat "flat", a Frankish word for smooth or flat.
- Stage 2 · Old French · medieval flater "to caress, stroke", smoothing someone down with praise.
- Stage 3 · English · 1200s flatter "to praise insincerely", 'flattering' clothes date from the 1900s.