Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “blandishment” come from?

blandishment (English) comes from English blandish, from Middle English blaundishen, from Anglo-Norman blaundishen, from Middle French blandir, from Latin blandīrī, from Latin blandus, from Proto-Indo-European mland-, from Proto-Indo-European meld- — to strengthen; to bind; to change, exchange.

blandishment (English): "Often in the plural form" blandishments: a...

Definitions

  1. "Often in the plural form" blandishments: a...

Ancestry of “blandishment”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishblandishTo persuade someone by using flattery; to cajole;...
2Middle Englishblaundishento flatter; to fawn; to be enticing or...
3Anglo-Normanblaundishen—
4Middle Frenchblandir—
5Latinblandīrī—
6Latinblanduspleasant, agreeable; enticing, seductive,...
7Proto-Indo-Europeanmland-—
8Proto-Indo-Europeanmeld-to beat, crush, grind
9Proto-Indo-Europeanmel-soft; tender; weak; to deceive; to rub
10Proto-Indo-Europeanmey-to strengthen; to bind; to change, exchange
Every word from Proto-Indo-European mey- →