Part 187

Flat"head` (?), a. Characterized by flatness of head, especially that produced by artificial means, as a certain tribe of American Indians.

Flat"head`, n. (Ethnol.) A Chinook Indian. See Chinook, n., 1.

Flat"-head`ed (?), a. Having a head with a flattened top; as, a flat-headed nail.

Flat"i`ron (?), n. An iron with a flat, smooth surface for ironing clothes.

Fla"tive (?), a. [L. flare, flatum to blow.] Producing wind; flatulent. [Obs.] A. Brewer.

Flat"ling (?), adv. [Flat, a. + adverbial suff. -ling.] With the flat side, as of a sword; flatlong; in a prostrate position. [Obs.] Spenser.

Flat"long (?; 115), adv. With the flat side downward; not edgewise. Shak.

Flat"ly, adv. In a flat manner; evenly; horizontally; without spirit; dully; frigidly; peremptorily; positively; plainly. "He flatly refused his aid." Sir P. Sidney.

He that does the works of religion slowly, flatly, and without appetite.

Jer. Taylor.

Flat"ness, n. 1. The quality or state of being flat.

2. Eveness of surface; want of relief or prominence; the state of being plane or level.

3. Want of vivacity or spirit; prostration; dejection; depression.

4. Want of variety or flavor; dullness; insipidity.

5. Depression of tone; the state of being below the true pitch; -- opposed to sharpness or acuteness.

Fla*tour" (?), n. [OF.] A flatterer. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Flat"ten (flt"t'n), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Flattened (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Flattening.] [From Flat, a.] 1. To reduce to an even surface or one approaching evenness; to make flat; to level; to make plane.

2. To throw down; to bring to the ground; to prostrate; hence, to depress; to deject; to dispirit.

3. To make vapid or insipid; to render stale.

4. (Mus.) To lower the pitch of; to cause to sound less sharp; to let fall from the pitch.

To flatten a sail (Naut.), to set it more nearly fore-and-aft of the vessel. -- Flattening oven, in glass making, a heated chamber in which split glass cylinders are flattened for window glass.

Flat"ten, v. i. To become or grow flat, even, depressed, dull, vapid, spiritless, or depressed below pitch.

Flat"ter (flt"tr), n. 1. One who, or that which, makes flat or flattens.

2. (Metal Working) (a) A flat-faced fulling hammer. (b) A drawplate with a narrow, rectangular orifice, for drawing flat strips, as watch springs, etc.

Flat"ter (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Flattered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Flattering.] [OE. flateren, cf. OD. flatteren; akin to G. flattern to flutter, Icel. fla&?;ra to fawn, flatter: cf. F. flatter. Cf. Flitter, Flutter, Flattery.] 1. To treat with praise or blandishments; to gratify or attempt to gratify the self-love or vanity of, esp. by artful and interested commendation or attentions; to blandish; to cajole; to wheedle.

When I tell him he hates flatterers, He says he does, being then most flattered.

Shak.

A man that flattereth his neighbor, spreadeth a net for his feet.