- fondle
- fondle (v.) 1690s, "treat with indulgence and affection," frequentative of fond "dote upon" (see FOND (Cf. fond)). Sense of "caress" first recorded 1796. Related: Fondled; fondling (1670s as a pp. adjective).
Etymology dictionary. 2014.
fondle
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Fondle — Fon dle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Fondled}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Fondling}.] [From {Fond}, v.] To treat or handle with tenderness or in a loving manner; to caress; as, a nurse fondles a child. Syn: Syn. See {Caress}. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
fondle — pet, cosset, *caress, cuddle, dandle … New Dictionary of Synonyms
fondle — [v] touch lovingly bear hug*, caress, clutch, cosset, cuddle, dandle, embrace, feel, fool around*, grab, grope, hug, love, make love to, neck, nestle, nuzzle, pat, paw, pet, play footsie*, snuggle, squeeze, stroke; concepts 190,375 … New thesaurus
fondle — ► VERB ▪ stroke or caress lovingly or erotically. ► NOUN ▪ an act of fondling. DERIVATIVES fondler noun. ORIGIN back formation from obsolete fondling «much loved or petted person», from FOND(Cf. ↑fondness) … English terms dictionary
fondle — [fän′dəl] vt. fondled, fondling [freq. of obs. v. fond < FOND1] 1. to stroke or handle in a tender and loving way; caress 2. to touch or stroke, often inappropriately, in making sexual advances 3. Obs. to pamper SYN. CARESS fondler … English World dictionary
fondle — fondler, n. fondlingly, adv. /fon dl/, v., fondled, fondling. v.t. 1. to handle or touch lovingly, affectionately, or tenderly; caress: to fondle a precious object; to fondle a child. 2. Obs. to treat with fond indulgence. v.i. 3. to show… … Universalium
fondle — [[t]fɒ̱nd(ə)l[/t]] fondles, fondling, fondled VERB If you fondle someone or something, you touch them gently with a stroking movement, usually in a sexual way. [V n] He tried to kiss her and fondle her … English dictionary
fondle — UK [ˈfɒnd(ə)l] / US [ˈfɑnd(ə)l] verb [transitive] Word forms fondle : present tense I/you/we/they fondle he/she/it fondles present participle fondling past tense fondled past participle fondled to squeeze or rub someone or something gently,… … English dictionary
fondle — verb (fondled; fondling) Etymology: frequentative of obsolete fond to fondle Date: 1694 transitive verb 1. obsolete pamper 2. to handle tenderly, lovingly, or lingeringly ; caress intransitive verb to sh … New Collegiate Dictionary
fondle — to caress sexually Literally, to handle something or someone fondly: ... she had learned to slide her hand into his slitted pocket and fondle him. (Sanders, 1973) … How not to say what you mean: A dictionary of euphemisms
