8 results for: sycophant

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

syc·o·phant

Audio Help [sik-uh-fuh

nt, -fant, sahy-kuh-] Pronunciation Key

–noun

a self-seeking, servile flatterer; fawning parasite.

[Origin: 1530–40; < L sȳcophanta < Gk sȳkophántés informer, equiv. to sŷko(n) fig + phan- (s. of phaínein to show) + -tés agentive suffix

]

—Related forms

syc·o·phan·tic, syc·o·phan·ti·cal, syc·o·phant·ish, adjective

syc·o·phan·ti·cal·ly, syc·o·phant·ish·ly, adverb

syc·o·phant·ism, noun

—Synonyms toady, yes man, flunky, fawner, flatterer.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
sycophant

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

syc·o·phant Audio Help (sĭk'ə-fənt, sī'kə-) Pronunciation Key
n. A servile self-seeker who attempts to win favor by flattering influential people.

[Latin sȳcophanta, informer, slanderer, from Greek sūkophantēs, informer, from sūkon phainein, to show a fig (probably originally said of denouncers of theft or exportation of figs) : sūkon, fig + phainein, to show; see bhā-¹ in Indo-European roots.]

syc'o·phan'tic (-fān'tĭk), syc'o·phan'ti·cal (-tĭ-kəl) adj., syc'o·phan'ti·cal·ly adv.

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Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
sycophant

1537 (in L. form sycophanta), "informer, talebearer, slanderer," from L. sycophanta, from Gk. sykophantes, originally "one who shows the fig," from sykon "fig" + phanein "to show." "Showing the fig" was a vulgar gesture made by sticking the thumb between two fingers, a display which vaguely resembles a fig, itself symbolic of a cunt (sykon also meant "vulva"). The story goes that prominent politicians in ancient Greece held aloof from such inflammatory gestures, but privately urged their followers to taunt their opponents. The sense of "mean, servile flatterer" is first recorded in Eng. 1575.

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

sycophant
noun
a person who tries to please someone in order to gain a personal advantage

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Sycophant

Syc"o*phant\, n. [L. sycophanta a slanderer, deceiver, parasite, Gr. ? a false accuser, false adviser, literally, a fig shower; ? a fig + ? to show: cf. F. sycophante. The reason for the name is not certainly known. See Phenomenon.]

1. An informer; a talebearer. [Obs.] "Accusing sycophants, of all men, did best sort to his nature." --Sir P. Sidney.

2. A base parasite; a mean or servile flatterer; especially, a flatterer of princes and great men.

A sycophant will everything admire: Each verse, each sentence, sets his soul on fire. --Dryden.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Sycophant

Syc"o*phant\, v. t. [CF. L. sycophantari to deceive, to trick, Gr. ?.]

1. To inform against; hence, to calumniate. [Obs.]

Sycophanting and misnaming the work of his adversary. --Milton.

2. To play the sycophant toward; to flatter obsequiously.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Sycophant

Syc"o*phant\, v. i. To play the sycophant.