sycophant
[ sik-uh-fuhnt, -fant, sahy-kuh- ]
/ ˈsɪk ə fənt, -ˌfænt, ˈsaɪ kə- /
noun
a self-seeking, servile flatterer; fawning parasite.
Origin of sycophant
1530–40; < Latin
sȳcophanta < Greek
sȳkophántēs informer, equivalent to
sŷko(n) fig +
phan- (stem of
phaínein to show) +
-tēs agentive suffix
SYNONYMS FOR sycophant
OTHER WORDS FROM sycophant
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, nounWords nearby sycophant
sycoma,
sycon,
syconium,
syconoid,
sycophancy,
sycophant,
sycophantic,
sycosiform,
sycosis,
sydenham's chorea,
sydney
Example sentences from the Web for sycophantic
British Dictionary definitions for sycophantic (1 of 2)
sycophantic
/ (ˌsɪkəˈfæntɪk) /
adjective
using flattery to win favour from individuals wielding influence; toadyish; obsequious
Derived forms of sycophantic
sycophantically, adverbBritish Dictionary definitions for sycophantic (2 of 2)
sycophant
/ (ˈsɪkəfənt) /
noun
a person who uses flattery to win favour from individuals wielding influence; toady
Derived forms of sycophant
sycophancy, nounWord Origin for sycophant
C16: from Latin
sӯcophanta, from Greek
sukophantēs, literally: the person showing a fig, apparently referring to the fig sign used in making an accusation, from
sukon fig +
phainein to show; sense probably developed from ``accuser'' to ``informer, flatterer''