coax English · revision 1589

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /koʊks/; /kəʊks/ ''(UK)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It comes from the obsolete verb ''cokes'' “to make a fool of”,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) from the noun ''cokes'' “fool, simpleton” (1567),^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) which is of uncertain origin.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) Random House suggests it is a variant of [[coxcomb]],^(RHWU) and Etymonline mentions a possible link with [[cock]].^(Etymonline) The spelling ''coax'' appears in 1706.^(Barnhart 1995)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To pet, fondle or coddle (1586).^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Early senses were to make a fool of someone and to fondle or pet,^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate) both now obsolete.^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate) The OED suggests the verb was in vulgar use long before it was written down, so the order of first records may not follow the sense development.^(Etymonline) The sense of persuading by soft words and flattery appeared in 1663,^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989) and that of guiding a thing gently into a desired state from 1841.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1567 – ''cokes'', a simpleton.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1586 – to coddle, ''coax up''.^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1589 – to pet or fondle, now obsolete.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1616 – to make a fool of, now obsolete.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1663 – to persuade by flattery.^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1706 – the spelling ''coax''.^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1841 – to urge a thing by gentle means.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To persuade gently by flattery or pleading; to [[cajole]] or [[wheedle]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To get something by persistent, gentle persuasion.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+ # To handle something patiently to bring it into a desired state, as in coaxing a fire to burn.^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(obsolete)'' To fondle or caress.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[coaxer]]

+ * [[coaxingly]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}