What does sycophant mean?
Definitions for sycophant
ˈsɪk ə fənt, -ˌfænt, ˈsaɪ kə-syco·phant
This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word sycophant.
Princeton's WordNet
sycophant, toady, crawler, lackey, ass-kissernoun
a person who tries to please someone in order to gain a personal advantage
Wiktionary
sycophantnoun
One who uses compliments to gain self-serving favor or advantage from another.
sycophantnoun
One who seeks to gain through the powerful and influential.
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 Dictionary
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.
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.
ChatGPT
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 Dictionary
Sycophantnoun
an informer; a talebearer
Sycophantnoun
a base parasite; a mean or servile flatterer; especially, a flatterer of princes and great men
Sycophantverb
to inform against; hence, to calumniate
Sycophantverb
to play the sycophant toward; to flatter obsequiously
Sycophantverb
to play the sycophant
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 Dictionary
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.]
Numerology
Chaldean Numerology
The numerical value of sycophant in Chaldean Numerology is: 1
Pythagorean Numerology
The numerical value of sycophant in Pythagorean Numerology is: 4
Popularity rank by frequency of use
References
Translations for sycophant
From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary
- متملق ذليلArabic
- gwenieithwrWelsh
- spytslikkerDanish
- Schleimer, Kriecher, Speichellecker, SchmeichlerGerman
- συκοφάντηςGreek
- sicofanta, adulador, pelota, lameculosSpanish
- pealekaebaja, takkakiitjaEstonian
- ادم چاپلوسPersian
- imartelijaFinnish
- flagorneurFrench
- sodalaicheScottish Gaelic
- foalsereyManx
- चापलूसHindi
- talpnyalóHungarian
- պնակալեզ, քծնողArmenian
- smjaðrari, undirlægja, höfðingjasleikjaIcelandic
- delatore, leccaculo, leccapiedi, ruffiano, sicofante, adulatoreItalian
- חמורHebrew
- ごますりJapanese
- ಸಿಕೊಫಂಟ್Kannada
- gatlikker, bruinwerker, kontlikker, pluimstrijker, vleier, kruiperDutch
- spyttsleiker, spyttslikkerNorwegian
- pochlebca, cmokier, lizusPolish
- lambe-botas, sicofanta, puxa-saco, bajulador, aduladorPortuguese
- льстец, подхалим, лизоблюд, подлизаRussian
- ulizica, улизицаSerbo-Croatian
- భట్రాజుTelugu
- sipsipTagalog
- dalkavukTurkish
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"sycophant." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 26 Apr. 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/sycophant>.
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