ca·jole (k -j l )
tr.v. 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.
[French cajoler, possibly blend of Old French cageoler, to chatter like a jay (from geai, jai, jay; see jay2) and Old French gaioler, to lure into a cage (from gaiole, jaiole, cage; see jail).]
ca·jol
er n.
ca·jol
er·y (-jl-r ) n.
ca·jol
ing·ly adv. |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published byHoughton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
If Gretchen wants to sell you some girl scout cookies and she tells you she thinks you're the best, you might think that she's cajoling you into a sell, but you'd be mistaken as Gretchen is both charming and sincere.
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