flatter

The French verb "flatter" means "to flatter" in English.

Meaning:

• To praise someone excessively or insincerely, often to gain their favor or to manipulate them.

  • Example: Il essaie de flatter son patron pour obtenir une promotion.
    (He tries to flatter his boss to get a promotion.)

• It can also mean to touch or stroke something in a gentle or pleasing way (less common in everyday use).

  • Example: Le vent flatte les feuilles des arbres.
    (The wind strokes the leaves of the trees.)

Parts:

• The verb "flatter" comes from the Old French word of the same spelling.
• It is a regular first-group verb ending in -er.
• Present tense conjugation example:
  • je flatte (I flatter)
  • tu flattes (you flatter)
  • il/elle flatte (he/she flatters)
  • nous flattons (we flatter)
  • vous flattez (you flatter)
  • ils/elles flattent (they flatter)

Synonyms:

• féliciter (to congratulate, praise)
• louez (to praise)
• caresser (to stroke, caress - for the gentle touch meaning)

Antonyms:

• ignorer (to ignore)
• insulter (to insult)
• remarquer négativement (to criticize)

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In summary, "flatter" primarily refers to giving excessive praise, often insincere, and can also mean gentle touching in a poetic sense.