'adulate' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'adulatus,' where 'ad-' meant 'to' and 'ulatus' meant 'to fawn upon.'

'adulatus' transformed into the French word 'aduler,' and eventually became the modern English word 'adulate' through Middle English.

Initially, it meant 'to fawn upon,' but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'to praise excessively or obsequiously.'