coax etymology

Etymology:

• Middle English: cacchen, from Old French: cachier, from Latin: captiare "to catch, take captive"
• Ultimately derived from Latin: capere "to take, hold"

Meaning:

• To persuade or induce someone to do something by gentle urging, persuasion, or flattery.

Origin:

The word "coax" originated in the early 14th century from the Middle English verb "cacchen," which meant "to catch" or "take captive." This verb was itself derived from the Old French "cachier," with a similar meaning.

The Latin root "captiare" was used in military and hunting contexts to refer to the act of capturing or taking prisoner, and it extended to metaphorical senses such as "to catch someone's fancy" or "to persuade."

Over time, the meaning of "coax" evolved to refer specifically to using gentle persuasion or flattery to induce someone to do something, rather than using force or coercion. The word has been used in this sense since the 16th century.

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