caress
[kuh-res]
- an act or gesture expressing affection, as an embrace or kiss, especially a light stroking or touching.
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- to touch or pat gently to show affection.
- to touch, stroke, etc., lightly, as if in affection: The breeze caressed the trees.
- to treat with favor, kindness, etc.
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Origin of caress
1605–15; < French caresse < Italian carezza < Vulgar Latin *caritia, equivalent to Latin cār(us) dear + -itia suffix of abstract nouns; cf. charity
Synonyms
See more synonyms for caress on Thesaurus.com1. pat, fondling, hug.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for caressed
Contemporary Examples
Had one reached out and caressed the other, would that have been an assault?
He climbed down from the chair and squatting on the floor, took the creature into his arms and caressed her.
Read ‘The King in Yellow,’ the ‘True Detective’ Reference That’s the Key to the ShowRobert W. Chambers
February 20, 2014
There was a way that it caressed her body and the pleats hung just so, brushing the tops of her feet like a soft whisper.
“If you wanted to make it with somebody, you reached over and caressed their leg,” said Levenson.
Historical Examples
Mr. Morgan caressed his heavy moustache with the end of his penholder.
The Slave Of The LampHenry Seton Merriman
He drank; and again as they were near together he caressed her.
He was blubbering in her arms, hysterically, as she caressed him.
The AdventurerCyril M. Kornbluth
Now, suddenly, he caressed it, he resolved to act on its prompting.
A Spirit in PrisonRobert Hichens
He sat on the seat and caressed the dog, and his heart grew full and happy.
The ChristianHall Caine
caress
- a gentle touch or embrace, esp one given to show affection
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- (tr) to touch or stroke gently with affection or as with affectionthe wind caressed her face
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Word Origin
C17: from French caresse, from Italian carezza, from Latin cārus dear
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for caressed
caress
v.
1650s, from French caresser, from Italian carezzare "to cherish," from carezza "endearment" (see caress (n.)). Related: Caressed; caressing.
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caress
n.
1640s, "show of endearment, display of regard," from French caresse (16c.), back-formation from caresser or else from Italian carezza "endearment," from caro "dear," from Latin carus "dear, costly, beloved" (see whore (n.)). Meaning "affectionate stroke" attested in English from 1650s.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper