▪ I. flattering, vbl. n.
(ˈflætərɪŋ)
[f. flatter v.1 + -ing1.]
The action of the vb. flatter, in its various senses. Now rare exc. in gerundial use.
| a 1225 Ancr. R. 320 Vor fearlac, vor flatterunge. a 1340 Hampole Psalter v. 11 Wiþ flaterynge þai deuoure wham swa þai may felaghe wiþ þaim. c 1430 Syr Gener. (Roxb.) 1977 Thurgh his fals flatering With the Sodon was he dwelling. 1563–87 Foxe A. & M. (1596) 951/2 The preachers..preached nothing but lies and flatterings. 1607 Hieron Wks. I. 430 Secret soothing and flattering of the heart. 1678 R. Barclay Apol. Quakers Ded., The flattering of court parasites. |
▪ II. ˈflattering, ppl. a.
[f. as prec. + -ing2.]
1. a. Of a person, his actions, utterances, etc.: That flatters or tries to please by praise, generally insincere; adulatory.
| 1484 Caxton Fables of æsop i. xv, The foole whiche herd the flaterynge wordes of the foxe beganne to open his bylle for to synge. 1550 Crowley Epigr. 839 Be ware of all flatterynge frendis. 1600 Shakes. A.Y.L. iv. i. 188 That flattering tongue of yours wonne me. 1781 Gibbon Decl. & F. III. 115 The most flattering bard..would have hesitated to affirm, that he surpassed the measure of the demi-gods of antiquity. |
† b. Coaxing, wheedling. Obs.
| c 1386 Chaucer Friar's Prol. 30, I schal him telle which a gret honour Is to ben a fals flateryng lymytour. 1697 Dryden Virg. Georg. iii. 269 Thy flatt'ring Method on the Youth pursue. |
2. a. Suggesting pleasurable (usually, delusive) anticipations or beliefs; pleasing to the imagination.
| 1393 Gower Conf. III. 174, I shall..deceive and lie With flaterende prophecie. 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 57 Flee all y⊇ false flateryng promesses of y⊇ worlde. 1596 Shakes. Tam. Shr. i. i. 44 Euen as a flatt'ring dreame. 1717 Pope Epist. to Jervas 23 What flatt'ring scenes our wand'ring fancy wrought! a 1859 Macaulay Hist. Eng. V. 305 He had consulted by letter all the most eminent physicians..and, as he was apprehensive that they might return flattering answers if they knew who he was, he had [etc.]. 1871 R. Hurley Let. in Raymond Statist. Mines & Mining (1872) 203 The prospects at this camp are very flattering. |
b. Of the weather, the stars, etc.: Promising, (delusively) encouraging hope. Now rare.
| 1633 T. Stafford Pac. Hib. ii. xxx. 278 Don Juan..hourely expecting a wind to bee gone, and finding a flattering gale went aboard. 1697 W. Dampier Voy. I. 413 Such flattering weather is commonly the forerunner of a Tempest. 1711 Swift Jrnl. to Stella 27 Oct., It has been a terrible rainy day, but so flattering in the morning, that I would needs go out in my new hat. 1847 Emerson Poems, Threnody Wks. (Bohn) I. 490 For flattering planets seemed to say This child should ills of ages stay. |
3. a. Gratifying to self-esteem; highly complimentary.
| 1757 Burke Abridgm. Eng. Hist. Wks. 1842 II. 593 These opinions are flattering to national vanity. 1820 Lamb Final Mem. viii. To Mr. Rogers 277 It is not the flatteringest compliment..to an author to say, you have not read his book yet. 1831 Sir J. Sinclair Corr. II. 273 The very flattering terms in which he expressed himself. 1852 Mrs. Stowe Uncle Tom's C. xxxvi, The dark beauty of the supposed little girl drew many flattering comments from the passengers. |
b. flattering unction: see unction 5 b.
† 4. Caressing, handling lightly. Cf. flatter v.1 1 b. Obs.
| 1650 Fuller Pisgah ii. vi. 150 Their [Baal's priests'] flattering hands..did theatrically..let out some drops of wild bloud. |
5. That represents too favourably; said esp. of a picture or the like.
| 1595 Shakes. John ii. i. 503 Till now, infixed I beheld my selfe, Drawne in the flattering table of her eie! 1718 Prior Alma iii. 23 The flatt'ring Glass of Nature. 1774 Goldsm. Retal. 63 A flattering painter, who made it his care To draw men as they ought to be, not as they are. |
6. quasi-adv. = flatteringly adv.
| 1592 Shakes. Rom. & Jul. ii. ii. 141 All this is but a dreame, Too flattering sweet to be substantiall. |
Hence ˈflatteringness, the quality of being flattering.
| 1894 Temple Bar Mag. CI. 195 She gently tempers its flatteringness by the remark. |