FLAT'TERING, participle present tense 1. Gratifying with praise; pleasing by applause; wheedling; coaxing. 2. adjective Pleasing to pride or vanity; gratifying to self-love; as a flattering eulogy. The minister gives a flattering account of his reception at court. 3. Pleasing; favorable; encouraging hope. We have a flattering prospect of an abundant harvest. The symptoms of the disease are flattering 4. Practicing adulation; uttering false praise; as a flattering tongue.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI