▪ I. sycophant, n. (a.)
(ˈsɪkəfənt, -fænt)
Also 6 (sicophanta), sichophant, 6–7 scico-, sico-, 7 sicco-, scyco-, 7–8 sycho- (9 syko-).
[ad. L. sȳcophanta, ad. Gr. σῡκοϕάντης, f. σῦκον fig + ϕαν-, root of ϕαίνειν to show. (Cf. F. sycophante (16th c.), † sichophant, It., Sp. sicofanta, Pg. sycophanta.)
The origin of the Gr. word, lit. = ‘fig-shower’, has not been satisfactorily accounted for. The explanation, long current, that it orig. meant an informer against the unlawful exportation of figs cannot be substantiated. It is possible that the term referred orig. to the gesture of ‘making a fig’ or had an obscene implication: cf. fig n.2 (See Boisacq Dict. {Eacu}tym. de la langue grecque.)]
1. Gr. Hist. One of a class of informers in ancient Athens: see quots. and etymology above.
| 1579–80 North Plutarch (1595) 101 (Solon) Wee may not altogetehr discredite those which say, they did forbid in the olde time that men should carie figges out of the countrie of Attica, and that from thence it came that these picke thankes, which bewray and accuse them that transported figges, were called Sycophantes. 1656 Stanley Hist. Philos. v. (1701) 171/1 Crobulus the Sycophant met him, accompanying Chabrias to the Tower, and said unto him, Do you come to help others, you know not that the poyson of Socrates is reserved for you? 1748 Hume Ess., Inq. Hum. Underst. xi, If Epicurus had been accused before the people by any of the sycophants or informers of those days. 1838 Thirlwall Greece xxxi. IV. 181 A class of men who were universally odious,..the informers, or sycophants as they were called at Athens, who had perverted the laws [etc.]. |
† 2. transf. and fig. An informer, tale-bearer, malicious accuser; a calumniator, traducer, slanderer. Obs.
| [1537 Cromwell in Merriman Life & Lett. (1902) II. 84 Whereas Michael Throgmerton..hathe..taken vppon him..to become bothe a Sicophanta in Writing and a most vnkynde deuiser..of thinges most..traytorous against hys sayd Souereigne lorde.] a 1548 Hall Chron., Hen. IV 2 b, He..was very glad (as tell tales and scicophantes bee..) to declare to the kyng what he had heard. 1561 B. Googe Palingenius' Zodiac of Life To Rdr., Who can scape the poisened lips of slandrous sicophants? 1612 T. Taylor Comm. Titus iii. 2. (1619) 568 As sychophants who make the scapes of men farre greater then they are. 1697 Potter Antiq. Greece i. xxi. (1715) 122. |
3. A mean, servile, cringing, or abject flatterer; a parasite, toady, lickspittle.
| 1575 Gascoigne Glasse Govt. Prol. 18 What subtile snares these Sycophantes can use. a 1633 Austin Medit. (1635) 224 Such is his [sc. the Pope's] power, attributed to him by his Sycophants that there can bee no Saints but of his making! 1702 Rowe Tamerl. i. i, A noble Freedom..unknown to fawning Sycophants. 1736 Bolingbroke Patriot. (1749) 139 Crowds of spies, parasites and sycophants, will surround the throne under the patronage of such ministers. 1843 Prescott Mexico ii. i. (1850) I. 183 The young monarch was accompanied by a swarm of courtly sycophants. 1877 Mrs. Oliphant Makers Flor. x. 252 The real sentiments of this great prince..were very different from those of his sycophants. |
† 4. Vaguely used for: Impostor, deceiver. Obs.
| 1589 [? Nashe] Almond for Parrat 16 Am not I old Ille ego qui quondam at y⊇ besleeuing of a sichophant? 1606 Chapman Gentl. Usher v. I 4 b, Presumptuous Sicophant, I will have thy life. 1651 Wittie tr. Primrose's Pop. Err. 163 The good man Daniel Sennertus,..being deceived by a Germane sycophant. 1653 Gataker Vind. Annot. Jer. 13 It is not any spurious or seditious doctrine in their Teachers, by this foul-mouthed Sycophant, so falsely fathered upon Calvin. 1728 Chambers Cycl., Sycophant,..the term became used..at last, for a Lyer, Imposter, &c. |
5. Comb., as sycophant-like adj.
| 1601 B. Jonson Poetaster v. iii. 112 An honest sycophant⁓like slaue. 1627 [R. Niccols] Beggers Ape B 3, With Sycophantlike trickes, hee tooke delight, With euery Iacke to play the Parasite. |
B. attrib. or adj. Sycophantic.
| 1692 E. Walker tr. Epictetus' Mor., In praise Epictetus, The bended knee Of Sycophant Servility. a 1700 Evelyn Diary 25 Mar. 1657, The Protector,..now affecting King⁓ship, is petition'd to take the Title on him by all his new⁓made sycophant Lords. 1747 Richardson Clarissa (1811) II. xxvi. 169 A sycophant creature. 1763 Wilkes Corr. (1805) I. 236 This sycophant court language. 1847 C. Brontë J. Eyre Pref. to ed. 2, Ahab did not like Micaiah, because he never prophesied good concerning him..: probably he liked the sycophant son of Chenaannah better. |
▪ II. † sycophant, v. Obs.
[f. prec.]
trans. To act the sycophant towards. a. To slander, calumniate, traduce. b. To flatter meanly; also intr. to play the sycophant (= sycophantize 2). Hence † sycophanting ppl. a.
| 1637 Heywood Pleas. Dial. xiv. Wks. 1874 VI. 230 Nor sycophant they us, such things to attaine By us. 1642 Milton Apol. Smect. Wks. 1851 III. 261 By sycophanting and misnaming the worke of his adversary. 1674 Govt. Tongue viii. 150 His Sycophanting arts being detected. 1704 J. Macmillan in H. M. B. Reid Cameronian Apostle (1896) App. i. 223 A sycophanting age. |