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Dandle vs Caress - What's the difference?

dandle | caress |

As verbs the difference between dandle and caress

is that dandle is to move up and down on one’s knee or in one’s arms, in affectionate play, as an infant while caress is to touch or kiss lovingly; to fondle.

As a noun caress is

an act of endearment; any act or expression of affection; an embracing, or touching, with tenderness.

dandle

English

Verb

(dandl)
  • To move up and down on one’s knee or in one’s arms, in affectionate play, as an infant.
  • :* "you will nurse and be carried on her arm and dandled on her knees." – Isaiah 66:12 (NIV)
  • To treat with fondness, as if a child; to fondle; to toy with; to pet.
  • :* [T]hey have put me in a silk night-gown and gaudy fool's cap, and make me now and then stand in the window with it. I am ashamed to be dandled thus, and cannot look in the glass without blushing to see myself turned into such a pretty little master. –
  • :* The book, thus dandled into popularity by bishops and good ladies, contained many pieces of nursery eloquence. –
  • (obsolete) To play with; to put off or delay by trifles; to wheedle.
  • :* Captains do so dandle their doings, and dally in the service, as it they would not have the enemy subdued. –
  • Derived terms

    * dandler

    See also

    * dander * fondle * pet

    Anagrams

    * (Webster 1913)

    caress

    English

    Noun

    (caresses)
  • An act of endearment; any act or expression of affection; an embracing, or touching, with tenderness.
  • * Longfellow
  • Wooed her with his soft caresses .
  • * Macaulay
  • He exerted himself to win by indulgence and caresses the hearts of all who were under his command.
  • A gentle stroking or rubbing.
  • Verb

  • To touch or kiss lovingly; to fondle.
  • She loves being caressed by her boyfriend.
  • To affect as if with a caress.
  • Synonyms

    * hold * soothe * stroke * kiss

    Antonyms

    * poke * stab * strike * hit

    Anagrams

    * * * *