
intr.v., fawned, fawn·ing, fawns.
- To exhibit affection or attempt to please, as a dog does by wagging its tail, whining, or cringing.
- To seek favor or attention by flattery and obsequious behavior.
[Middle English faunen, from Old English fagnian, to rejoice, from fagen, fægen, glad.]
fawner fawn'er n.fawningly fawn'ing·ly adv.
SYNONYMS fawn, apple-polish, bootlick, kowtow, slaver, toady, truckle. These verbs mean to curry favor by behaving obsequiously and submissively: fawned on her superior; students apple-polishing the teacher; bootlicked to get a promotion; lawyers kowtowing to a judge; slavered over his rich uncle; toadying to members of the club; nobles truckling to the king.
fawn2 (fôn)

n.
- A young deer, especially one less than a year old.
- A grayish yellow-brown to moderate reddish brown.
[Middle English, from Old French foun, faon, feon, young animal, from Vulgar Latin *fētō, *fētōn-, from Latin fētus, offspring.]









