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Definition sycophant

Etymology

First attested in 1537. From Latin s?cophanta (“informer, trickster”), from Ancient Greek ?????????? (sukophánt?s), itself from ????? (sûkon, “fig”) + ????? (phaín?, “I show, demonstrate”). The gesture of "showing the fig" was a vulgar one, which was made by sticking the thumb between two fingers, a display which vaguely resembles a fig, which is itself symbolic of a ????? (sûkon), which also meant vulva. The story behind this etymology is that politicians in ancient Greece steered clear of displaying that vulgar gesture, but urged their followers sub rosa to taunt their opponents by using it.

Noun

sycophant (plural sycophants)

1. One who uses obsequious compliments to gain self-serving favor or advantage from another; a servile flatterer.
2. One who seeks to gain through the powerful and influential.
3. (obsolete) An informer; a talebearer.

Verb

sycophant (third-person singular simple present sycophants, present participle sycophanting, simple past and past participle sycophanted)

1. (transitive) To inform against; hence, to calumniate.
2. (transitive) To play the sycophant toward; to flatter obsequiously.

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