flatterie

Forms

flatterie f (plural flatteries)^[1] Old French flaterie.^[2][3]

Etymology

It is formed from French flatter + -erie.^[2][4][5] The verb comes from Old French flater, which Bloch and Wartburg derive from Frankish *flat “flat of the hand”, the first idea being to pass the flat of the hand over something.^[6][1]

Littré compares Old Occitan flataria.^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found as flaterie about 1265 in Brunetto Latini's Trésor: the act of flattering someone with false or exaggerated praise.^[2][7]

Semantic evolution

Unlike the verb, which also meant to caress an animal, flatterie and flatteur were used only of praise, never of caresses.^[5] The word named both the quality of a flatterer and, as une flatterie, a flattering remark or act, often in the plural.^[5][7] In the Roman de la Rose it is paired with deceit (tout est flaterie et guile), and a 14th-century poem on Du Guesclin has sans nulle flaterie “without any flattery”.^[3] Calvin's 16th-century use for vain confidence was short-lived.^[3]

Timeline

• c. 1265 – Brunetto Latini uses flaterie.^[2]
• 13th century – The Roman de la Rose pairs it with deceit.^[3]
• 14th century – Sans nulle flaterie in the poem on Du Guesclin.^[3]

Meanings

Noun

1. flattery: the act of flattering, false or exaggerated praise given out of self-interest.^[8][9][3]
2. A flattering remark or act, often in the plural.^[7][10]

Related words

• flatter
• flatteur
• flatteusement

References

1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
3. ^ a b c d e f g Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
4. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ a b c Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
7. ^ a b c Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
8. ^ Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
9. ^ Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)
10. ^ Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)