fondle

From fond (“love, admire”) +‎ -le (frequentative suffix).

• IPA^(key): /ˈfɒndl/

• Audio (UK)

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• Rhymes: -ɒndəl

fondle (third-person singular simple present fondles, present participle fondling, simple past and past participle fondled)

1. To touch or stroke lovingly.

   Mothers fondle their babies.

2. To grasp.

   The lovers fondled each other.

• (to touch or stroke lovingly): dandle, pet, touch up; see also Thesaurus:fondle
• (to grasp): clutch, grab, nim; see also Thesaurus:grasp

• fondler
• fondlingly

• Douglas Harper (2001–2023), “fondle”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.

• Folden, enfold, folden