Difference between revisions of "Flattery"
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*1a : the [[act]] or [[practice]] of flattering | *1a : the [[act]] or [[practice]] of flattering | ||
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'''Flattery''' (also called adulation or blandishment) is the [[act]] of giving excessive compliments, generally for the [[purpose]] of ingratiating oneself with the subject. | '''Flattery''' (also called adulation or blandishment) is the [[act]] of giving excessive compliments, generally for the [[purpose]] of ingratiating oneself with the subject. | ||
| − | Historically, flattery has been used as a [[standard]] form of [[discourse]] when addressing a [[king]] or queen. In the [[Renaissance]], it was a common practice among [[writers]] to flatter the reigning monarch, as [ | + | Historically, flattery has been used as a [[standard]] form of [[discourse]] when addressing a [[king]] or queen. In the [[Renaissance]], it was a common practice among [[writers]] to flatter the reigning monarch, as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmund_Spenser Edmund Spenser] flattered [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_Elizabeth_I Queen Elizabeth I] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Faerie_Queene The Faerie Queene], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Shakespeare William Shakespeare] flattered [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_I_of_England King James I] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macbeth Macbeth] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niccol%C3%B2_Machiavelli Niccolò Machiavelli] flattered [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lorenzo_II_di_Piero_de%27_Medici Lorenzo II di Piero de' Medici], ruler of Florence and Duke of Urbino, in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Prince The Prince]. |
Flattery is also used in pick-up lines used to attempt to initiate [[romantic]] [[courtship]]. | Flattery is also used in pick-up lines used to attempt to initiate [[romantic]] [[courtship]]. | ||
| − | Most associations with flattery, however, are [[negative]]. Negative descriptions of flattery range at least as far back in [[history]] as The [[Bible]]. In the [ | + | Most associations with flattery, however, are [[negative]]. Negative descriptions of flattery range at least as far back in [[history]] as The [[Bible]]. In the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divine_Comedy Divine Comedy], Dante depicts flatterers wading in human excrement, stating that their [[words]] were the equivalent of excrement, in the 8th Circle of Hell. |
| − | An insincere flatterer is a stock character in many [[literary]] works. Examples include [ | + | An insincere flatterer is a stock character in many [[literary]] works. Examples include [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gr%C3%ADma_Wormtongue Wormtongue] from J. R. R. Tolkien's [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lord_of_the_Rings The Lord of the Rings], Goneril and Regan from King Lear, and Iago from Othello. |
"To flatter" is also used to refer to artwork or clothing that makes the subject or wearer [[appear]] more [[attractive]]. | "To flatter" is also used to refer to artwork or clothing that makes the subject or wearer [[appear]] more [[attractive]]. | ||
Latest revision as of 23:56, 12 December 2020
Definitions
- b (1) : something that flatters (2) : insincere or excessive praise
Description
Flattery (also called adulation or blandishment) is the act of giving excessive compliments, generally for the purpose of ingratiating oneself with the subject.
Historically, flattery has been used as a standard form of discourse when addressing a king or queen. In the Renaissance, it was a common practice among writers to flatter the reigning monarch, as Edmund Spenser flattered Queen Elizabeth I in The Faerie Queene, William Shakespeare flattered King James I in Macbeth and Niccolò Machiavelli flattered Lorenzo II di Piero de' Medici, ruler of Florence and Duke of Urbino, in The Prince.
Flattery is also used in pick-up lines used to attempt to initiate romantic courtship.
Most associations with flattery, however, are negative. Negative descriptions of flattery range at least as far back in history as The Bible. In the Divine Comedy, Dante depicts flatterers wading in human excrement, stating that their words were the equivalent of excrement, in the 8th Circle of Hell.
An insincere flatterer is a stock character in many literary works. Examples include Wormtongue from J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, Goneril and Regan from King Lear, and Iago from Othello.
"To flatter" is also used to refer to artwork or clothing that makes the subject or wearer appear more attractive.
