blandire
to flatter
verb blahn-DEE-reh Rare
Origin: Latin blandiri (to soothe, flatter)
Also means
to coax
Usage Note
Blandire implies soft, ingratiating flattery aimed at winning someone over — more calculated than simple praise. It takes avere as its auxiliary. The related adjective blando means 'mild' or 'bland', a false friend for English speakers who might expect 'flattering'.
Examples
"Il politico cercava di blandire gli elettori."
Natural Translation
The politician was trying to flatter the voters.
Related Words
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