Wednesday's Words (3)

cajole\kuh-JOHL\ , transitive verb;

1.To persuade with flattery, repeated appeals, or soothing words; to coax

 

Origin:

Cajole derives from Early Modern French cajoler, originally, "to chatter like a bird in a cage, to sing; hence, to amuse with idle talk, to flatter," from Old French gaiole, jaiole, "a cage," from Medieval Latin caveola, "a small cage," from Latin cavea, "an enclosure, a den for animals, a bird cage," from cavus, "hollow." It is related to cave, cage and jail (British gaol).

 

Quote:

 

One of Virgil's great accomplishments was his ability to charm, cajole, weasel people out of their bad moods, especially when their bads moods inconvenienced him.

-- Anthony Tommasini, Virgil Thomson: Composer on the Aisle