Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “flattering” come from?

Flattering comes from Middle English flatering, from the verb flater meaning to deceive or cajole.

flattering (English): Attractive or good-looking; that makes one look...

Definitions

  1. Attractive or good-looking; that makes one look...

Ancestry of “flattering”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishflatering—

Words derived from “flattering”

  • unflattering
  • unflatteringly
  • flatteringness
Every word from Middle English flatering →