Etymology Dictionary

ADULATION,  flattery.  (F.,—L.)   In Shak. Henry V, iv. I. 271.—F. adulation, 'adulation, flattery, fawning,' &c.; Cotgrave.—Lat. adulationem, acc. of adulatio, flattery.—Lat. adulari, to flatter, fawn, pp. adulatus.   ¶ The supposed original meaning of adulari is to wag the tail as a dog does, hence to fawn, which Curtius connects with the ✔WAL, to wag, roll (cf. Skt. val, to wag, move to and fro, Lat. uoluere, to roll).   And the ✔WAL points back to an older ✔WAR, to surround, twist about; Curtius, i. 447, Fick, i. 212.   β. Fick, however, takes a different view of the matter, and identifies the -ūl- in adulari with Gk. οὐρά, a tail; i. 770.   Der. adulat-or-y.