01 n. Servile flattery; praise in excess, or beyond what is merited.
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1.
Servile flattery; praise in excess, or beyond what is merited.“Think'st thou the fiery fever will go out With titles blown from adulation?” — Shak.
Syn.
Sycophancy; cringing; fawning; obsequiousness; blandishment.
-- Adulation, Flattery, Compliment. Men deal in compliments from a desire to please; they use flattery either from undue admiration, or a wish to gratify vanity; they practice adulation from sordid motives, and with a mingled spirit of falsehood and hypocrisy. Compliment may be a sincere expression of due respect and esteem, or it may be unmeaning; flattery is apt to become gross; adulation is always servile, and usually fulsome.