sycophant Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a person who tries to please someone in order to gain a personal advantage
    toady; lackey; ass-kisser; crawler.

WordNet

Syc"o*phant noun
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.
Definitions
  1. An informer; a talebearer. Obs. "Accusing sycophants, of all men, did best sort to his nature." Sir P. Sidney.
  2. A base parasite; a mean or servile flatterer; especially, a flatterer of princes and great men.
    A sycophant will everything admire: Each verse, each sentence, sets his soul on fire. Dryden.
Syc"o*phant transitive verb
Etymology
CF. L. sycophantari to deceive, to trick, Gr. .
Definitions
  1. To inform against; hence, to calumniate. Obs.
    Sycophanting and misnaming the work of his adversary. Milton.
  2. To play the sycophant toward; to flatter obsequiously.
Syc"o*phant intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To play the sycophant.

Webster 1913