wheedlen.
/ˈwiːdl/, U.S. /ˈ(h)wid(ə)l/ Now rare.† 2. A wheedler. Obsolete.
1. An act or instance of wheedling; a piece of insinuating flattery or cajolery; also gen. wheedling speech.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > motivation > persuasion > [noun] > wheedling, coaxing, or cajoling > an act of
wheedle1668
cajole1719
ablandishment1728
snow job1943
the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > approval or sanction > commendation or praise > flattery or flattering > persuasive flattery or cajolery > [noun] > an act of
wheedle1668
stroke1964
1668 G. Etherege She wou'd if she Cou'd i. i. 8 Dost thou think to pass these gross wheadles on Me too?
1682 E. Hickeringill Black Non-Conformist vii. 26 It looks like a Wheedle, or a Trepan, to drill a Man into a Court by Process in a feigned Suit.
1687 C. Sedley Bellamira iv. i You have several times talked to me of a sister of mine, lost from our house in Devonshire; but I always look'd upon it as a meer wheedle.
a1708 T. Ward England's Reformation (1710) ii. 87 In Cant and Wheedle most Expert They were.
1755 J. Shebbeare Lydia (1769) II. 284 She.., by a soft insinuating wheedle, took possession of the divine's good opinion.
1814 Word of Honor iii. i, in New Brit. Theatre I. 368 I cannot stand this wheedle.
1861 W. M. Thackeray Roundabout Papers Ogres, So were the Sirens ogres—pretty blue-eyed things..singing their melodious wheedles.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > motivation > persuasion > [noun] > wheedling, coaxing, or cajoling > one who wheedles, coaxes, or cajoles
fleecherc1425
wheedle1673
cajoler1676
coaxer1706
wheedler1773
carney1818
coax1863
sweet-talker1946
the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > approval or sanction > commendation or praise > flattery or flattering > persuasive flattery or cajolery > [noun] > cajoler
fleecherc1425
wheedle1673
cajoler1676
coaxer1706
wheedler1773
coax1863
1673 W. Wycherley Gentleman Dancing-master iv. i Hipp. You saw I cou'd dissemble with my Father, Why shou'd you think I cou'd not with you? Ger. So young a Wheadle?
1681 T. Otway Souldiers Fortune iii. i. 34 Dainty Wheadle, here's a Fellow for ye.
1699 B. E. New Dict. Canting Crew Parasite, a Trencher Friend, a meer Wheedle.
1699 B. E. New Dict. Canting Crew Wheadle, a Sharper.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1923; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
wheedlev.
/ˈwiːdl/, U.S. /ˈ(h)wid(ə)l/ 1.
a. transitive. To entice or persuade by soft flattering words; to gain over or take in by coaxing or cajolery.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > motivation > persuasion > persuade (a person) [verb (transitive)] > wheedle, coax, or cajole
fleechc1425
coyc1490
flatter?a1513
cuittlec1565
smooth1584
ingle1602
cajole1645
collogue1660
wheedle1661
coax1663
to wheedle with1664
to cajole with1665
manage1677
whilly1721
carney1811
whillywha1816
canoodle1864
patise1891
schmear1910
sweet-talk1936
soft-talk1946
snow-job1962
the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > approval or sanction > commendation or praise > flattery or flattering > persuasive flattery or cajolery > cajole [verb (transitive)]
fagea1400
fleechc1425
flatter?a1513
stroke1513
sweeten1594
ingle1602
honey1604
coga1616
cajole1645
collogue1660
wheedle1661
coax1663
to wheedle with1664
to cajole with1665
tweedle1715
whilly1721
whillywha1816
to salve over1862
schmooze1899
plámás1919
sweet-talk1936
1661 T. Blount Glossographia (ed. 2) Whead or Wheadle, is a late word of fancy, and signifies to draw one in, by fair words or subtile insinuation, to act any thing of disadvantage or reproof.
1668 T. Shadwell Sullen Lovers iv. 52 Come Sir, don't think to Wheadle me at this rate!
1675 T. Tully Let. to R. Baxter 23 To be wheadl'd with bare Talke.
1726 D. Defoe Polit. Hist. Devil i. i. 14 He wheedled Eve, deluded Adam.
1814 W. Wordsworth Excursion ii. 63 Smooth words he had to wheedle simple souls. View more context for this quotation
1850 C. Dickens David Copperfield xxxii. 327 He was crossing you and wheedling you.
1888 J. Bryce Amer. Commonw. II. xxxix. 78 The citizens are too numerous to be all wheedled or threatened.
b. with various prepositions and adverbs, or with infinitive: To bring into a specified condition by such action.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > motivation > persuasion > persuade (a person) [verb (transitive)] > wheedle, coax, or cajole > into or out of
coy1635
to complement away, out of1640
wheedle1667
to compliment (a person) into (a state), out of (a thing)1705
inveigle1849
blandander1888
1667 Leathermore: Advice conc. Gaming (1668) 7 If the Winner be bubbleable, they will..wheadle him into play and win all his Money.
1669 J. Worlidge Systema Agriculturæ (1681) 247 By laying the Net in such haunts, and wheedling them [sc. pigeons, etc.] in by a Stale.
1672 A. Marvell Rehearsal Transpros'd i. 129 To wheedle one almost to make himself away.
1673 J. Dryden Amboyna Prol. sig. a Religion wheedled you to Civil War.
1687 in J. R. Bloxham Magdalen Coll. & James II (1886) 167 They were wheedled off of it by some few sugar words.
1723 D. Defoe Hist. Col. Jack (ed. 2) 14 The Major..was wheedled a way, by a couple of young Rogues.
1726 D. Defoe Polit. Hist. Devil i. i. 13 How he wheedled the people..into the absurd..undertaking of building a Babel.
1860 C. Dickens Uncommerc. Traveller in All Year Round 28 Jan. 321/1 I..should have no idea..how to wheedle a man into ordering something he doesn't want.
1869 H. B. Stowe Oldtown Folks xl. 517 He has a tongue that could wheedle a bird out of a tree.
1876 C. M. Davies Unorthodox London (rev. ed.) 184 Whom he wheedled over not to betray him.
1891 R. Kipling Light that Failed xii. 232 I have seen you wheedle an angry Mahdieh woman into giving you dates.
2. To do (a person) out of a thing, or to get (a thing) out of a person, by such action.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > acquisition > obtain or acquire [verb (transitive)] > obtain or acquire in a certain way > by asking, entreaty, or importunity
getc1330
emprent?c1400
impetrea1450
impetrate1533
importunate1605
to worm (a person) out of1617
exorate1623
wheedle1670
stout1812
the mind > will > motivation > persuasion > persuade (a person) [verb (transitive)] > wheedle, coax, or cajole > get something out of a person by
wheedle1670
coax1700
the mind > possession > loss > taking away > take away [verb (transitive)] > deprive (of) > by wheedling, blustering, or worrying
wheedle1670
outbluster1747
vex1878
the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > approval or sanction > commendation or praise > flattery or flattering > persuasive flattery or cajolery > cajole [verb (transitive)] > obtain by cajoling
wheedle1670
1670 A. Wood Life & Times (1892) II. 196 The M[aste]rs whedled out of one [Act].
1700 W. Congreve Way of World iii. i. 51 I have already a deed of Settlement of the best part of her Estate; which I wheadl'd out of her.
1759 R. Jackson Hist. Rev. Pennsylvania 379 These Proprietaries..would have either bullied or wheadled the Inhabitants out of the Privileges they were born to.
1816 W. Scott Antiquary I. iii. 59 I wheedled an old woman out of these [ballads].
1831 W. Scott Castle Dangerous v, in Tales of my Landlord 4th Ser. IV. 149 I suffered the abbess to wheedle the secret out of me.
1886 R. L. Stevenson Kidnapped xxiv. 236 Wheedling my money from me while I lay half-conscious.
3.
a. absol. or intransitive. To use soft flattering words; (of an animal) to fawn; †to wheedle in with, to curry favour with; †to wheedle with = sense 1.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > motivation > persuasion > persuade [verb (intransitive)] > wheedle, coax, or cajole
blandisha1340
wheedle1664
coax1706
cajole1789
carney1867
mee-maw1886
the mind > will > motivation > persuasion > persuade (a person) [verb (transitive)] > wheedle, coax, or cajole
fleechc1425
coyc1490
flatter?a1513
cuittlec1565
smooth1584
ingle1602
cajole1645
collogue1660
wheedle1661
coax1663
to wheedle with1664
to cajole with1665
manage1677
whilly1721
carney1811
whillywha1816
canoodle1864
patise1891
schmear1910
sweet-talk1936
soft-talk1946
snow-job1962
the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > approval or sanction > commendation or praise > flattery or flattering > flatter [verb (intransitive)]
fikea1225
flatter?c1225
ficklec1230
blandisha1340
smooth1340
glaver1380
softa1382
glozec1386
to hold (also bear) up oila1387
glothera1400
flaitec1430
smekec1440
love?a1500
flata1522
blanch1572
cog1583
to smooth it1583
smooth1587
collogue1602
to oil the tongue1607
sleek1607
wheedle1664
pepper1784
blarney1837
to pitch (the) woo1935
flannel1941
sweet-talk1956
the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > approval or sanction > commendation or praise > flattery or flattering > persuasive flattery or cajolery > cajole [verb (transitive)]
fagea1400
fleechc1425
flatter?a1513
stroke1513
sweeten1594
ingle1602
honey1604
coga1616
cajole1645
collogue1660
wheedle1661
coax1663
to wheedle with1664
to cajole with1665
tweedle1715
whilly1721
whillywha1816
to salve over1862
schmooze1899
plámás1919
sweet-talk1936
the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > approval or sanction > commendation or praise > flattery or flattering > servile flattery or currying favour > flatter servilely or curry favour with [verb (transitive)]
flatter1340
to claw the back ofc1394
to pick a thank (also thanks)c1422
clawc1425
to claw by the sleeve1509
to claw by the backa1542
fawna1568
to make or pay (one's) court to1590
adulate1612
hug1622
sycophant1637
to make up to1701
to whip it in with1702
cultivate1706
incense1708
to wheedle in with1726
to grandfather up1747
slaver1794
toad1802
to play up to ——1809
nut1819
toady1827
bootlick1846
to suck up to1860
lickspittle1886
jolly1890
bum-suck1918
arse-lick1919
to cosy up to1937
brown-nose1948
ass-kiss1951
ass-lick1962
love-bomb1976
1664 S. Butler Hudibras: Second Pt. ii. iii. 155 His bus'ness was to pump and whedle.
1712 T. Hearne Remarks & Coll. (1889) III. 290 Lancaster goes down to the Dean of Xt. Church, and began to wheedle with him.
1726 D. Defoe Polit. Hist. Devil ii. i. 201 Secretly wheedling in with the dignified Clergy.
1728 J. Swift Phyllis in J. Swift et al. Misc. Prose & Verse (ed. 2) II. 135 Johnny wheedled, threaten'd, fawn'd, Till Phyllis all her trinkets pawn'd.
1811 A. de Beauclerc Ora & Juliet I. 204 She wheedled with the housekeeper, till she insured a glass of cordial from her.
1850 Ld. Tennyson Princess (ed. 3) v. 110 Wheedling and siding with them!
1865 A. C. Swinburne Satia in Poems & Ballads xiv As a tame beast writhes and wheedles.
b. Cant. = whiddle v.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > information > informing on or against > inform on or against [verb (intransitive)]
inform1588
peach1598
whistle1599
sing1612
whiddlec1661
squeak1690
wheedle1710
whittle1735
to blow the gab1785
snitch1801
rat1810
nose1811
sing1816
gnarl1819
split1819
stag1839
clype1843
squeal1846
blow1848
to round on1857
nark1859
pimp1865
squawk1872
ruck1884
to come or turn copper1891
copper1897
sneak1897
cough1901
stool1911
tattle-tale1918
snout1923
talk1924
fink1925
scream1925
sarbut1928
grass1929
to turn over1967
dime1970
society > communication > information > informing on or against > inform on or against [verb (transitive)]
wrayc725
meldeOE
bimeldena1300
forgabc1394
to blow up?a1400
outsay?a1400
detectc1449
denounce1485
ascry1523
inform1526
promote1550
peach1570
blow1575
impeach1617
wheedle1710
split1795
snitch1801
cheep1831
squeal1846
to put away1858
spot1864
report1869
squawk1872
nose1875
finger1877
ruck1884
to turn over1890
to gag on1891
shop1895
pool1907
run1909
peep1911
pot1911
copper1923
finger1929
rat1932
to blow the whistle on1934
grass1936
rat1969
to put in1975
turn1977
1710 S. Palmer Moral Ess. Prov. 197 Sing in the Proverb, is the same that our Newgate-Birds call Wheedle; which is, when one of the Gang Tattles, Confesses, and Accuses the Rest.
Derivatives
ˈwheedled adj.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > motivation > persuasion > [adjective] > wheedling, coaxing, or cajoling > wheedled or coaxed
wheedled1675
coaxed1829
the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > approval or sanction > commendation or praise > flattery or flattering > persuasive flattery or cajolery > [adjective] > cajoled
wheedled1675
1675 R. Head Proteus Redivivus 226 His gulled or Wheedled Patient.
ˈwheedling n. and adj. (chiefly of conduct manner, etc.)
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > motivation > persuasion > [noun] > wheedling, coaxing, or cajoling
blandishingc1305
flatteryc1320
blandishc1475
fleechingc1480
coying1580
blandishment1591
suppalpation1634
cajolery1649
wheedling1668
coaxing1672
cajolingc1724
cajolement1816
plámás1853
fleechment1886
sloothering1892
wheedlery1909
snow-jobbing1966
sweet-talking1981
the mind > will > motivation > persuasion > [adjective] > wheedling, coaxing, or cajoling
blandishingc1374
flatteringc1386
fleechinga1522
ingling1595
lenocinating1609
wheedling1668
coaxing1704
cajolinga1715
carneying1853
blandandering1896
sloothering1919
noodging1988
the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > approval or sanction > commendation or praise > flattery or flattering > persuasive flattery or cajolery > [noun]
fleechingc1480
cajolery1649
wheedling1668
coaxing1672
cajolingc1724
cajolement1816
fleechment1886
sloothering1892
wheedlery1909
sweet-talking1981
the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > approval or sanction > commendation or praise > flattery or flattering > persuasive flattery or cajolery > [adjective]
fleechinga1522
ingling1595
wheedling1668
coaxing1704
cajolinga1715
wheedly1838
wheedlesome1863
sloothering1919
1668 T. Shadwell Sullen Lovers iv. 60 Pox on't what a Wheadling Rogue art thou now?
1674 R. Head Jackson's Recantation sig. B1v Incomparable at the Art of wheedling, which some call Complaisance.
1694 F. Bragge Pract. Disc. Parables ii. 41 His sly and wheedling insinuations.
1713 N. Rowe Jane Shore i. i A laughing, toying, wheadling, whimpering she.
1714 A. Pope Chaucer's Wife of Bath in R. Steele Poet. Misc. 12 By Murmuring, Wheedling, Stratagem and Force, I still prevail'd.
1836 C. Dickens Pickwick Papers (1837) v. 47 Notwithstanding all kinds of coaxing and wheedling, there were Mr. Winkle and the horse going round and round each other for ten minutes.
1848 C. Dickens Dombey & Son lii. 518 ‘I wonder master didn't take you with him, Rob,’ said the old woman, in a wheedling voice.
1859 G. Meredith Ordeal Richard Feverel II. xv. 315 Wheedling availed as little as argument.
ˈwheedlingly adv.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > motivation > persuasion > [adverb] > wheedlingly or coaxingly
fleechingly1688
coaxingly1714
cajolingly1853
wheedlingly1856
the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > approval or sanction > commendation or praise > flattery or flattering > persuasive flattery or cajolery > [adverb]
fleechingly1688
coaxingly1714
cajolingly1853
wheedlingly1856
1856 G. Meredith Shaving of Shagpat i. 18 Wheedlingly she looked at him.
1904 W. S. Gilbert Fairy's Dilemma i Al. (wheedlingly). What am I to get for this, eh?
ˈwheedler n.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > motivation > persuasion > [noun] > wheedling, coaxing, or cajoling > one who wheedles, coaxes, or cajoles
fleecherc1425
wheedle1673
cajoler1676
coaxer1706
wheedler1773
carney1818
coax1863
sweet-talker1946
the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > approval or sanction > commendation or praise > flattery or flattering > persuasive flattery or cajolery > [noun] > cajoler
fleecherc1425
wheedle1673
cajoler1676
coaxer1706
wheedler1773
coax1863
1773 Ainsworth's Dict. (new ed.) II. at Delinitor A cajoler, or wheedler.
a1861 T. Winthrop Life in Open Air (1863) 41 Smith, wheedler of trout.
1868 L. M. Alcott Little Women I. xiv. 221 You get everything you want out of people…you are a born wheedler.
ˈwheedlery n. wheedling.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > motivation > persuasion > [noun] > wheedling, coaxing, or cajoling
blandishingc1305
flatteryc1320
blandishc1475
fleechingc1480
coying1580
blandishment1591
suppalpation1634
cajolery1649
wheedling1668
coaxing1672
cajolingc1724
cajolement1816
plámás1853
fleechment1886
sloothering1892
wheedlery1909
snow-jobbing1966
sweet-talking1981
the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > approval or sanction > commendation or praise > flattery or flattering > persuasive flattery or cajolery > [noun]
fleechingc1480
cajolery1649
wheedling1668
coaxing1672
cajolingc1724
cajolement1816
fleechment1886
sloothering1892
wheedlery1909
sweet-talking1981
1909 ‘G. G.’ Winkles 58 The fond daughter continued her wheedleries.
ˈwheedlesome adj. = wheedly adj.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > motivation > persuasion > [adjective] > wheedling, coaxing, or cajoling > of a wheedling character
blandished1671
wheedly1838
wheedlesome1863
the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > approval or sanction > commendation or praise > flattery or flattering > persuasive flattery or cajolery > [adjective]
fleechinga1522
ingling1595
wheedling1668
coaxing1704
cajolinga1715
wheedly1838
wheedlesome1863
sloothering1919
1863 L. M. Alcott Hospital Sketches 94 Anything more irresistibly wheedlesome I never saw.
ˈwheedly adj. of a wheedling character.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > motivation > persuasion > [adjective] > wheedling, coaxing, or cajoling > of a wheedling character
blandished1671
wheedly1838
wheedlesome1863
the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > approval or sanction > commendation or praise > flattery or flattering > persuasive flattery or cajolery > [adjective]
fleechinga1522
ingling1595
wheedling1668
coaxing1704
cajolinga1715
wheedly1838
wheedlesome1863
sloothering1919
1838 Lady Lyttelton Corr. (1912) 282 The maids of honour..are very coaxy and wheedly with me.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1923; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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