coax

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To gently persuade someone to do something, often with kind or flattering words.

   She managed to coax the frightened cat out from under the bed.

2. 2
   verb

   To carefully move or work something into a desired position or state.

   He slowly coaxed the rope through the narrow pipe.

Originally (1586) in the slang phrase to make a coax of, from earlier noun coax, cox, cokes "fool, simpleton", itself of obscure origin, perhaps related to cock (“male bird, pert boy”). The modern spelling is from 1706.

Topics