flattery

Etymology

From Middle English flaterye, flaterie, from Old French flaterie, from the verb flater (“to flatter”). Synchronically analyzable as flatter + -y (forming abstract nouns).

noun

1. (uncountable) Excessive praise or approval, which is often insincere and sometimes contrived to win favour.
   That the young Mr. Churchills liked—but they did not like him coming round of an evening and drinking weak whisky-and-water while he held forth on railway debentures and corporation loans. Mr. Barrett, however, by fawning and flattery, seemed to be able to make not only Mrs. Churchill but everyone else do what he desired. 1918, W. B. Maxwell, chapter 2, in The Mirror and the Lamp
2. (countable) An instance of excessive praise.