Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “cajoler” come from?

cajoler (English) comes from English cajole, from French cajoler, from Old French gaioler, from Medieval Latin gabiola, from Late Latin caveola, from Latin cavea, from Latin cavus, from Proto-Italic kawos — to swell; to be strong.

cajoler (English): A person who cajoles; a flatterer; A speech act...

Definitions

  1. A person who cajoles; a flatterer; A speech act...

Ancestry of “cajoler”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishcajoleTo persuade someone to do something which they...
2Frenchcajolerto cuddle, to cradle in one's arms; to flatter,...
3Old Frenchgaioler—
4Medieval Latingabiola—
5Late Latincaveola—
6Latincaveahollow, cavity; cage, den, enclosure, stall,...
7Latincavushollow, concave; excavated, channeled;...
8Proto-Italickawos—
9Proto-Indo-Europeanḱowh₁óshollow
10Proto-Indo-Europeanḱewh₁-to swell; to be strong
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ḱewh₁- →