DANDLE

dandle

Verb

  1. To move up and down on one’s knee or in one’s arms, in affectionate play, as an infant.
    • "you will nurse and be carried on her arm and dandled on her knees." – Isaiah 66:12 (NIV)
  2. To treat with fondness, as if a child; to fondle; to toy with; to pet.
    • 1hey have put me in a silk night-gown and gaudy fool's cap, and make me now and then stand in the window with it. I am ashamed to be dandled thus, and cannot look in the glass without blushing to see myself turned into such a pretty little master. –
    • The book, thus dandled into popularity by bishops and good ladies, contained many pieces of nursery eloquence. –
  3. To play with; to put off or delay by trifles; to wheedle.
    • Captains do so dandle their doings, and dally in the service, as it they would not have the enemy subdued. –


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