'Sycophant' definitions:

Definition of 'sycophant'

(from WordNet)
noun
A person who tries to please someone in order to gain a personal advantage [syn: sycophant, toady, crawler, lackey, ass-kisser]

Definition of 'Sycophant'

From: GCIDE
  • Sycophant \Syc"o*phant\, v. t. [CF. L. sycophantari to deceive, to trick, Gr. ?.]
  • 1. To inform against; hence, to calumniate. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]
  • Sycophanting and misnaming the work of his adversary. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. To play the sycophant toward; to flatter obsequiously. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Sycophant'

From: GCIDE
  • Sycophant \Syc"o*phant\, n. [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.]
  • 1. An informer; a talebearer. [Obs.] "Accusing sycophants, of all men, did best sort to his nature." --Sir P. Sidney. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. A base parasite; a mean or servile flatterer; especially, a flatterer of princes and great men. [1913 Webster]
  • A sycophant will everything admire: Each verse, each sentence, sets his soul on fire. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Sycophant'

From: GCIDE
  • Sycophant \Syc"o*phant\, v. i. To play the sycophant. [1913 Webster]

Words containing 'Sycophant'