cosset
gb/kˈɑsət/ us/kˈɑsət/
C1
English
pátyolgat, agyonkényeztet, kedvenc, cumis bárány, kézzel nevelt bárány
VERB
C1
LITERARY
1
pátyolgat
C1
Usage pattern:
cosset [someone/something]
She cosseted her youngest son and never let him do anything for himself.
Pátyolgatta a legkisebb fiát, és soha nem hagyta, hogy bármit is egyedül csináljon.
The resort cossets guests with private butlers and round-the-clock service.
Az üdülőhely magánkomornyikokkal és éjjel-nappali kiszolgálással kényezteti a vendégeket.
Try not to cosset the seedlings; they need to get used to outdoor conditions.
Learner examples
Don’t cosset him all the time.
Ne pátyolgasd őt állandóan.
The hotel cossets its guests.
A szálloda kényezteti a vendégeit.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse cosset with "cosy" or assume it is always positive; it often implies overprotection or spoiling.
Meaning
pamper and protect too much
Collocations
cosset a child
|cosset the baby
|cosset someone too much
|cosset employees
|cosset customers
|cosset guests
|cosseted upbringing
|cosseted childhood
|cosseted in luxury
|cosseted lifestyle
Synonyms
pamper (More common and usually less critical.)
|
coddle (Often emphasizes overprotection and making someone dependent.)
|
spoil (Focuses on negative results in behavior or attitude.)
Antonyms
neglect (Failing to give needed care or attention.)
|
toughen (Making someone more resilient rather than sheltered.)
Themes
parenting
|relationships
|emotions
|hospitality
|daily_life
Definition
to give someone too much care and comfort
To treat someone or something with excessive care, attention, and protection, often in a way that keeps them from becoming independent or resilient.
NOUN
C2
LITERARY
2
kedvenc
A2
Usage pattern:
the cosset of [group/person]
He was the cosset of the family, always fussed over at gatherings.
Ő volt a család kedvence, a családi összejöveteleken mindig körülrajongták.
The new puppy quickly became the household cosset.
Az új kiskutya hamar a ház kedvence lett.
As the coach’s cosset, she got extra chances others didn’t.
Learner examples
He was the cosset of the family.
Ő volt a család kedvence.
Common mistake:
This noun use is rare; learners may expect it to be the same as the common verb meaning.
Meaning
pampered favorite person or animal
Collocations
the family's cosset
|the cosset of the household
|a pampered cosset
Synonyms
pet (Common; can mean a favorite person, not only an animal.)
|
favorite (Neutral; does not necessarily imply indulgent treatment.)
|
darling (More affectionate and informal.)
Antonyms
outsider (Someone not favored or included.)
Themes
relationships
|emotions
|daily_life
Definition
a person who is treated like a favorite
A person or animal that is treated as a pet or favorite and is given a lot of attention and indulgent care.
NOUN
C2
ARCHAIC
3
Usage pattern:
a cosset (lamb)
The farmer’s children were raising a cosset in the kitchen with a bottle.
A gazda gyerekei a konyhában cumisüvegből neveltek egy kis bárányt.
After its mother died, the lamb became a cosset and followed them everywhere.
Miután elpusztult az anyja, kézzel nevelt bárány lett belőle, és mindenhová követte őket.
Common mistake:
This is a specialized, mainly British rural sense and is not the common meaning learners will meet.
Meaning
hand-reared lamb kept as pet
Collocations
a cosset lamb
|feed the cosset
|a bottle-fed cosset
Synonyms
pet lamb (More transparent and common phrasing.)
|
bottle lamb (Emphasizes being fed by bottle; regional farming term.)
Antonyms
ewe-reared lamb (Raised by its mother rather than by people.)
Themes
animals
|agriculture
|rural_life
Definition
a pet lamb raised by people
A lamb that has been reared by hand (often bottle-fed) and kept as a pet, especially after being separated from its mother.
Grammar
Dictionary form
cosset
IPA
GB/kˈɑsət/
US/kˈɑsət/
Syllables & stress
cos - set (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (cos)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: cosset
- Plural: cossets
Verb
- Base: cosset
- 3rd Person Singular: cossets
- Present Participle: cosseting
- Past: cosseted
- Past Participle: cosseted
Word family
Forms
cossets
noun
cosseting
verb
cosseted
verb
Expressions
cosset and coddle
1/kˈɑsət ˈænd kˈɑdəl/
fixed phrase
literary
treat someone too gently
to be too soft and protective with someone
Examples
- He expects everyone to cosset and coddle him whenever he feels stressed.
- If you cosset and coddle the team, they won’t learn to handle pressure.
- They tried not to cosset and coddle their daughter before she left for college.
Learner examples
- Don’t cosset and coddle him.