Hypertext Webster Gateway: "fawning"

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Fawn \Fawn\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Fawned}; p. pr. & vb. n.
{Fawning}.] [OE. fawnen, fainen, fagnien, to rejoice,
welcome, flatter, AS. f[ae]gnian to rejoice; akin to Icel.
fagna to rejoice, welcome. See {Fain}.]
To court favor by low cringing, frisking, etc., as a dog; to
flatter meanly; -- often followed by on or upon.

You showed your teeth like apes, and fawned like
hounds. --Shak.

Thou with trembling fear, Or like a fawning parasite,
obeyest. --Milton.

Courtiers who fawn on a master while they betray him.
--Macaulay.

From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)

fawning
adj : attempting to win favor from influential people by flattery
[syn: {bootlicking}, {obsequious}, {sycophantic}, {toadyish}]


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