flattery

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   Excessive praise or approval, which is often insincere and sometimes contrived to win favour.

   Don't you know that some of his contributions here are pure flattery?

2. 2
   noun

   An instance of excessive praise.

   But I pitty the flatteries, and ſelfe-applauſes of a careleſſe and impenitent heart: This jollity hath in it much danger, and vvithout ſome change, death.

3. 3
   noun

   excessive or insincere praise

4. 4
   name

   A surname from Irish.

Etymology

From Middle English flaterye, flaterie, from Old French flaterie, from the verb flater (“to flatter”). By surface analysis, flatter + -y (forming abstract nouns).