sycophant

== English == === Etymology === First attested in 1537. From Latin sȳcophanta (“informer, trickster”), from Ancient Greek συκοφάντης (sukophántēs), itself from σῦκον (sûkon, “fig”) + φαίνω (phaínō, “to 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 σῦκον (sûkon), which also meant vulva. The story behind this etymology is that politicians in ancient Greece steered clear of displaying that vulgar gesture, but secretly urged their followers to taunt their opponents by using it. Cognate with Italian sicofante, Spanish sicofanta. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˈsɪkəfænt/, /ˈsɪkəfənt/, /ˈsaɪkəfænt/, /ˈsaɪkəfənt/ === Noun === sycophant (plural sycophants) One who uses obsequious compliments to gain self-serving favour or advantage from another; a servile flatterer. Synonyms: ass-kisser, brown noser, suck-up, yes man; see also Thesaurus:sycophant One who seeks to gain through the powerful and influential. Synonyms: parasite, flunky, lackey; see also Thesaurus:sycophant (obsolete) An informer; a talebearer. ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === Verb === sycophant (third-person singular simple present sycophants, present participle sycophanting, simple past and past participle sycophanted) (transitive, obsolete) To inform against; hence, to calumniate. (transitive, rare) To play the sycophant toward; to flatter obsequiously. === Further reading === sycophant on Wikipedia.Wikipedia