Looking at Someone with Fawning Adulation

Tweet

It was interesting to discover that certain word relate to animals. All dog owners know that they often experience adulation from their pets in the form of wet, slobbery doggy kisses. In word terms, adulation means having “excess devotion to someone”. The word can be traced back to the Proto-Indo European or PIE language family. In PIE, adul actually means “to tail” but with the sense of “to wag the tail” just like adoring dogs do. In the 1200s, fawning, which is a synonym for adulation, also conveys “devoted dog, wagging tail” association. This one has an added animal inspiration since we all know that a baby deer is known as a fawn. So the next time you look at someone with fawning adulation picture yourself with wagging tail and lapping tongue. Have you heard of these words and phrases before?