sycophant

syc·o·phant

 (sĭk′ə-fənt, sī′kə-)

n.

A person who attempts to gain advantage by flattering influential people or behaving in a servile manner.

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[Latin sȳcophanta, informer, slanderer, from Greek sūkophantēs, informer, from sūkon phainein, to show a fig (perhaps originally said of denouncers of theft or exportation of figs or of persons making a lascivious gesture resembling a fig) : sūkon, fig + phainein, to show; see bhā- in Indo-European roots.]

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syc′o·phan′tic (-făn′tĭk), syc′o·phan′ti·cal (-tĭ-kəl) adj.

syc′o·phan′ti·cal·ly adv.

sycophant

(ˈsɪkəfənt)

n

a person who uses flattery to win favour from individuals wielding influence; toady

[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']

ˈsycophancy n

syc•o•phant

(ˈsɪk ə fənt, -ˌfænt, ˈsaɪ kə-)

n.

a self-seeking, servile flatterer; fawning parasite.

[1530–40; < Latin sȳcophanta < Greek sȳkophántēs informer =sŷko(n) fig + phan- (s. of phaínein to show) + -tēs agent suffix]

syc`o•phan′tic, syc`o•phant′ish, adj.

syc`o•phan′ti•cal•ly, syc`o•phant′ish•ly, adv.

syc′o•phant•ism, n.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

sycophant - a person who tries to please someone in order to gain a personal advantage ass-kisser, crawler, toady, lackey apple polisher, bootlicker, fawner, groveler, groveller, truckler - someone who humbles himself as a sign of respect; who behaves as if he had no self-respect adulator, flatterer - a person who uses flattery goody-goody - a person who behaves extremely well in order to please a superior

sycophant

noun crawler, yes man, toady, slave, parasite, cringer, fawner, hanger-on, sponger, brown-noser (taboo slang), flatterer, truckler, lickspittle, ass-kisser (U.S. & Canad. taboo slang), apple polisher (U.S. slang), bootlicker (informal), toadeater (rare) a dictator surrounded by sycophants

sycophant

noun

One who flatters another excessively:

adulator, courtier, flatterer, toady.

Informal: apple-polisher.

Translations

Schleimer

flagorneurlèche-bottessycophante

adulatore

sicofanta

sycophant

[ˈsɪkəfənt] N → adulador(a) m/f

sycophant

[ˈsɪkəfænt] n → flagorneur/euse m/f

sycophant

n → Kriecher(in) m(f), → Speichellecker(in) m(f) (inf)

sycophant

[ˈsɪkəfənt] n → adulatore/trice