blandish

[blan-dish]

verb (used with object)

1. to coax or influence by gentle flattery; cajole.

   They blandished the guard into letting them through the gate.

verb (used without object)

1. to use flattery or cajolery.

blandish

/ ˈblændɪʃ /

verb

1. (tr) to seek to persuade or influence by mild flattery; coax

Other Word Forms

• blandisher noun
• blandishingly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of blandish¹

1350–1400; Middle English blandisshen < Anglo-French, Middle French blandiss-, long stem of blandir < Latin blandīrī to soothe, flatter. See bland, -ish ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of blandish¹

C14: from Old French blandir from Latin blandīrī

Example Sentences

“I think that squash by itself is a little blandish, but the soup fixes it by adding more flavor to it,” he said.

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But many of the tasters were meh on the flavor, which they called “blandish”: “I’m overly aware of the casing — it feels chewy.”

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At 71Above, his cooking has taken a slightly more luxurious turn — foie gras terrine, truffled steak tartare with tapenade, blandish roast chicken with foie gras, truffles and mushrooms stuffed under the skin.

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Others see it as a blandish “Star Wars” knockoff that’s not nearly as endearing as “The Princess Bride,” which came out a year earlier.

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If Cambodia has a famous dish it’s probably amok, which usually takes the form of a blandish coconut-curry steamed custard similar to Thailand’s hawmawk.

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