FLATTER

I. verb Etymology: Middle English flateren, from Anglo-French flater to lap, ~, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German flaz flat Date: 13th century transitive verb to praise excessively especially from motives of self-interest, 2. beguile 4, to encourage or gratify especially with the assurance that something is right , 3. to portray too favorably , to display to advantage , intransitive verb to use ~y, ~er noun ~ingly adverb II. noun Date: 1714 one that flattens