captation

CIDE DICTIONARY

captation, n. [L. captatio, fr. captare to catch, intens. of caper to take: cf. F. captation.].

 A courting of favor or applause, by flattery or address; a captivating quality; an attraction.  [1913 Webster]
"Without any of those dresses, or popular captations, which some men use in their speeches."  [1913 Webster]

ROGET THESAURUS

captation

Flattery

N flattery, adulation, gloze, blandishment, blandiloquence, cajolery, fawning, wheedling, captation, coquetry, obsequiousness, sycophancy, flunkeyism, toadeating, tuft- hunting, snobbishness, incense, honeyed words, flummery, bunkum, buncombe, blarney, placebo, butter, soft soap, soft sawder, rose water, voice of the charmer, mouth honor, lip homage, euphemism, unctuousness, flattering, adulatory, mealy-mouthed, honey-mouthed, honeyed, smooth, smooth-tongued, soapy, oily, unctuous, blandiloquent, specious, fine-spoken, fair spoken, plausible, servile, sycophantic, fulsome, courtierly, courtier-like, ad captandum.