cajole

/kəˈdʒəʊl/

Etymology

Borrowed from French cajoler, probably a blend of Middle French cageoler (“chatter like a jay”) (from gajole, dialectal diminutive of geai (“jaybird”)) + Old French gaioler (“entice into a cage”), which is from Medieval Latin gabiola, from Late Latin caveola (whence English caveola), diminutive of Latin cavea (“cage, coop, enclosure, stall”). More at cage, cave, cavum, cavus, and jail.

cajole means The act of cajoling. Lexicurio rates it Rare gem — a strength score of 74 out of 100.

Why this word is great

CAJOLE — [Verb] To persuade someone through sustained flattery, gentle urging, or artful promises. From French cajoler, a probable blend of Middle French cageoler ("to chatter like a jay," from dialectal gajole, diminutive of geai, "jaybird") and Old French gaioler ("to entice into a cage," from Medieval Latin gabiola, a diminutive of Late Latin caveola, "small cage," from Latin cavea, "cage, enclosure"). Unlike "coerce," which commands through threat, or "persuade," which often appeals to reason, to cajole is to deploy a soft, beguiling siege against another's will. It is the strategic compliment offered before a request, the wheedling tone that extracts a third cookie, or the silken promise that coaxes a creature, step by flattered step, into a gilded enclosure—a testament to the soft power of words to build cages from which escape feels like ingratitude.

noun

The act of cajoling.

verb

To persuade someone to do something which they are reluctant to do, especially by flattery or promises; to coax.“Then he Cajol'd vvith his Brother, and perſvvaded him vvhat Service he had done him, […]”