cajole

To cajole is to try to get someone to do something, often using flattery, kindly tones or gentle prodding.

(verb)

An example of cajole is when you try to coax your friend into making your favorite dinner by commenting several times what a great cook she is and how much you love her food.

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See cajole in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb, intransitive verb cajoled, cajoling

to coax with flattery and insincere talk; wheedle

Origin: Fr cajoler, orig. to chatter like a jay in a cage; ? blend of OFr cage (see cage) + jaole, jail

Related Forms:

See cajole in American Heritage Dictionary 4

transitive verb ca·joled, ca·jol·ing, ca·joles
  1. To persuade by flattery, gentle pleading, or insincere language.
  2. To elicit or obtain by flattery, gentle pleading, or insincere language: The athlete cajoled a signing bonus out of the team's owner.

Origin:

Origin: French cajoler

Origin: , possibly blend of Old French cageoler, to chatter like a jay (from geai, jai, jay; see jay2)

Origin: and Old French gaioler, to lure into a cage (from gaiole, jaiole, cage; see jail)

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Related Forms:

  • ca·jolˈer noun
  • ca·jolˈer·y (-jōˈlə-rē) noun
  • ca·jolˈing·ly adverb

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