Coax
/koʊks/noun
To persuade someone gradually or by flattery to do something.
Did you know?The word 'coax' is believed to stem from an old term for 'to manipulate' or 'to urge', echoing practices of persuasion often seen in mystical rituals.
Etymological Timeline
Middle English
English
cokes
“A term used for a simpleton or a man easily deceived.”
Late Middle English
English
coaxen
“To persuade or beg, often through flattery.”
Old French
Old French
cocque
“A kind of simpleton, suggesting manipulation.”
Latin
Latin
coccare
“To cook or prepare, hinting at the notion of 'preparing' someone's mind.”
Proto-Germanic
Proto-Germanic
kōkaną
“To cry out or call, related to urging or coaxing someone.”
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*kā-
“To call, shout, or urge, the root of persuasion.”