adulatio

ădūlātĭo, ōnis, f. [adulor], a fawning, like that of a dog (adulatio est blandimentum proprie canum, quod et ad homines tractum consuetudine est, Non. 17, 4).—In the post-Aug. historians, esp. in Tac., very freq. for a servile respect exhibited by bowing the body = adoratio.

I.

Lit.:

canum tam fida custodia tamque amans dominorum adulatio,

Cic. N. D. 2, 63.—So of doves, a billing, Plin. 10, 34, 52, § 104.—Of men toward animals, Col. 6, 2, 5.—

II.

Fig., low, cringing flattery, adulation:

in amicitiis nullam pestem esse majorem quam adulationem, blanditiam, assentationem,

Cic. Lael. 25, 91:

pars altera regiae adulationis (i. e. adulatorum) erat,

Liv. 42, 30:

humi jacentium adulationes,

id. 9, 18; cf. Curt. 8, 6; so Tac. A. 1, 13, 14; 2, 32; 3, 2; 4, 6; 5, 7; 15, 59; id. G. 8, etc.; Suet. Aug. 53; Plin. Pan. 41, 3 al.