fondle

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

• IPA^(key): /ˈfɒndəl/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɒndəl

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

1. (transitive) To touch or stroke lovingly.

   Synonyms: dandle, pet, touch up; see also Thesaurus:fondle

   Mothers fondle their babies.

2. (transitive) To grasp.

   Synonyms: clutch, grab, nim; see also Thesaurus:grasp

   The lovers fondled each other.

• fondler
• fondlesome
• fondlingly

• Douglas Harper (2001–2024) “fondle”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.

fondle (plural fondles)

1. A caress.

   I gave the sleeping dog's ears a fondle as I walked past.

• Folden, enfold, folden