Definitions for Sycophant
ˈsɪk ə fənt, -ˌfænt, ˈsaɪ kə-syco·phant

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:4.0 / 4 votes

1. sycophant, toady, crawler, lackey, ass-kissernoun

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

WiktionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. sycophantnoun

   One who uses compliments to gain self-serving favor or advantage from another.

2. sycophantnoun

   One who seeks to gain through the powerful and influential.

3. Etymology: First attested in 1537. From sycophanta, from συκοφάντης, itself from σῦκον + φαίνω. 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 (sykon 'vagina' 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.

Samuel Johnson's DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. SYCOPHANTnoun

   A flatterer; a parasite.

   Etymology: συϰοφάντης; sycophanta, Latin.

   Accusing sycophants, of all men, did best sort to his nature; but therefore not seeming sycophants, because of no evil they said, they could bring any new or doubtful thing unto him, but such as already he had been apt to determine; so as they came but as proofs of his wisdom, fearful and more secure, while the fear he had figured in his mind had any possibility of event. Philip Sidney.

   Men know themselves void of those qualities which the impudent sycophant, at the same time, both ascribes to them, and in his sleeve laughs at them for believing. South.

2. To Sycophantverb

   To play the sycophant. A low bad word.

   Etymology: συϰοφαντέω; from the noun.

   His sycophanting arts being detected, that game is not to be played the second time; whereas a man of clear reputation, though his barque be split, has something left towards setting up again. Government of the Tongue.

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. sycophant

   A sycophant is a person who acts obsequiously toward someone important in order to gain advantage or favor. They often use excessive flattery and compliments to ingratiate themselves with the person of power. This term usually has a negative connotation, suggesting insincerity and selfish motives.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Sycophantnoun

   an informer; a talebearer

2. Sycophantnoun

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

3. Sycophantverb

   to inform against; hence, to calumniate

4. Sycophantverb

   to play the sycophant toward; to flatter obsequiously

5. Sycophantverb

   to play the sycophant

6. Etymology: [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.]

Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Sycophant

   sik′ō-fant, n. a common informer: a servile flatterer.—n. Syc′ophancy, the behaviour of a sycophant: mean tale-bearing: obsequious flattery: servility—also Sycophant′ism.—adjs. Sycophant′ic, -al, Sycophant′ish, like a sycophant: obsequiously flattering: parasitic.—v.i. Syc′ophantise.—adv. Syc′ophantishly.—n. Syc′ophantry, the arts of the sycophant. [Gr. sykophantēs, usually said to mean one who informed against persons exporting figs from Attica or plundering the sacred fig-trees; but more prob. one who brings figs to light by shaking the tree, hence one who makes rich men yield up their fruit by informations and other vile arts—sykon, a fig, phainein, to show.]

How to pronounce Sycophant?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say Sycophant in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of Sycophant in Chaldean Numerology is: 1

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of Sycophant in Pythagorean Numerology is: 4

Popularity rank by frequency of use

References

1. ^ Princeton's WordNet
   http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=Sycophant
2. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Sycophant
3. ^ Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
   https://johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/views/search.php?term=Sycophant
4. ^ ChatGPT
   https://chat.openai.com
5. ^ Webster Dictionary
   https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Sycophant
6. ^ Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
   https://www.gutenberg.org/files/37683/37683-h/37683-h.htm#:~:text=Sycophant