Word of the Day: INGRATIATE

To charm or kowtow

ingratiate (verb) - to establish oneself in another’s favor or good graces; to flatter [in-grey-shee-eyt]

BREAKDOWN: IN- (in) + GRAT- (favor, thanks) + -IATE (to make or do)

• ingratiating means attempting or adopted to flatter oneself into another’s favor; sycophantic

• ingratiation is a strategic, deliberate attempt to become more likable or attractive to another

See also: gratifying

“Somewhere around the fifth or seventh grade I figured out that I could ingratiate myself to people by making them laugh. Essentially, I was just trying to make them like me. But after a while it became part of my identity.” —Tina Fey