Also 7 carresse, caresse, (charesse). [a. F. caresse, 16th c. ad. It. carezza:—late L. *cāritia, f. cārus dear.] An action of endearment, a fondling touch or action, a blandishment.
[1611. Cotgr., Caresse, a cheering, cherishing … hugging … making much of.]
1651. Jer. Taylor, Holy Living, x. xiv. (R.). All the caresses and sweetness of love.
1667. Milton, P. L., VIII. 56. Solve high dispute With conjugal Caresses.
1774. Goldsm., Nat. Hist. (1776), III. 52. It [the goat] easily attaches itself to man, and seems sensible of his caresses.
1863. Geo. Eliot, Romola, II. xxxii. (1880), I. 386. She felt his caress no more than if he had kissed a mask.
b. fig.
1647. Clarendon, Hist. Reb., I. II. 98. The Scots made all the Caresses to many of the English.
1649. G. Daniel, Trinarch., Hen. V., cclxxi. ’T wer in vaine To frame Carresses of Discourse.
1750. Johnson, Rambl., No. 77, ¶ 2. When the gifts and caresses of mankind shall recompense the toils of study.
1761–2. Hume, Hist. Eng. (1806), V. lxx. 233. The caresses of faction, and the allurements of popularity.
