coax

• POS: Noun, Verb (usu participle), Verb (transitive)

CIDE DICTIONARY

coax, v. t. [Cf. OE. cokes fool, a person easily imposed upon, W. coeg empty, foolish; F. coquin knave, rogue.].

 To persuade by gentle, insinuating courtesy, flattering, or fondling; to wheedle; to soothe.

Syn. -- To wheedle; cajole; flatter; persuade; entice.

coax, n. 

 A simpleton; a dupe.  Beau. & Fl.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

coax, v.tr.
1 (usu. foll. by into, or to + infin.) persuade (a person) gradually or by flattery.
2 (foll. by out of) obtain (a thing from a person) by coaxing.
3 manipulate (a thing) carefully or slowly.

Derivative

coaxer n. coaxingly adv.

Etymology

16th c.: f. 'make a cokes of' f. obs. cokes simpleton, of unkn. orig.

THESAURUS

coax

advocate, allure, apply pressure, bait, bait the hook, banter, barter, beguile, beset, besiege, blandish, blarney, bug, butter up, buttonhole, cajole, call on, call upon, charm, con, decoy, draw, draw in, draw on, dun, ensnare, entice, exert pressure, exhort, flirt, flirt with, get, give the come-on, high-pressure, importune, induce, insist, insist upon, inveigle, jawbone, jolly, lead on, lobby, lure, manipulate, nag, nag at, offer bait to, persuade, pester, plague, plead with, ply, press, pressure, prevail, push, recommend, rope in, seduce, soft-soap, suck in, sweet-talk, tease, tempt, urge, wheedle, woo, work on

ROGET THESAURUS

coax

Motive

VB induce, move, draw, draw on, bring in its train, give an impulse, to, inspire, put up to, prompt, call up, attract, beckon, stimulate, spirit up, inspirit, rouse, arouse, animate, incite, foment, provoke, instigate, set on, actuate, act upon, work upon, operate upon, encourage, pat on the back, pat on the shoulder, clap on the back, clap on the shoulder, influence, weigh with, bias, sway, incline, dispose, predispose, turn the scale, inoculate, lead by the nose, have influence with, have influence over, have influence upon, exercise influence with, exercise influence over, exercise influence upon, go round, come round one, turn the head, magnetize, lobby, persuade, prevail with, prevail upon, overcome, carry, bring round to one's senses, bring to one's senses, draw over, win over, gain over, come over, talk over, procure, enlist, engage, invite, court, tempt, seduce, overpersuade, entice, allure, captivate, fascinate, bewitch, carry away, charm, conciliate, wheedle, coax, lure, inveigle, tantalize, cajole, tamper with, bribe, suborn, grease the palm, bait with a silver hook, gild the pill, make things pleasant, put a sop into the pan, throw a sop to, bait the hook, enforce, force, impel, propel, whip, lash, goad, spur, prick, urge, egg on, hound, hurry on, drag, exhort, advise, call upon, press, advocate, set an example, set the fashion, keep in countenance, be persuaded, yield to temptation, come round, concede, obey a call, follow advice, follow the bent, follow the dictates of, act on principle.

Endearment

VB caress, fondle, pet, dandle, pat, pat on the head, pat on the cheek, chuck under the chin, smile upon, coax, wheedle, cosset, coddle, cocker, cockle, make of, make much of, cherish, foster, kill with kindness, clasp, hug, cuddle, fold in one's arms, strain in one's arms, nestle, nuzzle, embrace, kiss, buss, smack, blow a kiss, salute, fold to the heart, press to the bosom, bill and coo, spoon, toy, dally, flirt, coquet, gallivant, galavant, philander, make love, pay one's court to, pay one's addresses to, pay one's attentions to, serenade, court, woo, set one's cap at, be sweet upon, look sweet upon, ogle, cast sheep's eyes upon, faire les yeux doux, fall in love with, win the affections, die for, propose, make an offer, have an offer, pop the question, plight one's troth, plight one's faith.

Flattery

VB flatter, praise to the skies, puff, wheedle, cajole, glaver, coax, fawn upon, faun upon, humor, gloze, soothe, pet, coquet, slaver, butter, jolly, bespatter, beslubber, beplaster, beslaver, lay it on thick, overpraise, earwig, cog, collogue, truckle to, pander to, pandar to, suck up to, kiss the ass of, pay court to, court, creep into the good graces of, curry favor with, hang on the sleeve of, fool to the top of one's bent, lick the dust, lay the flattering unction to one's soul, gild the pill, make things pleasant, overestimate, exaggerate.