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Cajoling

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ca⋅jole

[kuh-johl]
–verb (used with object), verb (used without object), -joled, -jol⋅ing.
to persuade by flattery or promises; wheedle; coax.

Origin:
1635–45; < F cajoler to cajole or chatter like a jaybird, appar. deriv. of *cajole birdcage (< LL caveola < L cave(a) cage + -ola ole1 ) + -er inf. suffix


ca⋅jole⋅ment, noun
ca⋅jol⋅er, noun
ca⋅jol⋅ing⋅ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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ca·jole   (kə-jōl')   
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 (-jō'lə-rē) n., ca·jol'ing·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

cajole 
1645, from Fr. cajoler, perhaps a blend of M.Fr. cageoler "to chatter like a jay," from gajole, southern dim. of geai "jay," and O.Fr. gaioler "to cage, entice into a cage."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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