sycophant

Meanings

• noun

  A person who acts obsequiously towards someone important in order to gain advantage.

  - "The sycophant flattered the king to gain favor."
  - "Despite his sycophantic behavior, he was not a trusted advisor."

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Rhymes

Words rhyming with sycophant
antiphon , hymnophone , diphthong

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Variants

List of all variants of sycophant that leads to same result
sycophant , sycophants

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Etymology

origin and the way in which meanings have changed throughout history.

From the Greek word 'sycophantēs', meaning 'slanderer' or 'accuser'. In ancient Greece, a sycophant was a professional accuser who would bring false charges against citizens in exchange for a fee.

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Trivia

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1. The term 'sycophant' first appeared in English in the 15th century.

2. In ancient Greece, sycophants were paid a fee for each false charge they brought against a citizen.

3. The word 'sycophant' is sometimes used metaphorically to describe a person who is excessively flattering or fawning towards a particular celebrity or public figure.

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Related Concepts

informations on related concepts or terms closely associated with the word. Discuss semantic fields or domains that the word belongs to

1. Flattery: The act of praising or complimenting someone excessively to gain favor or influence.

2. Obsequious: Excessively attentive and submissive, especially towards someone important.

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Quotes

Quotes by authors and personalities

1. His press conference on January 11 was all aimed toward a single moment. The President was at his rostrum at the Élysée, with a crowd of courtiers, journalists, and "sycophants" herded behind a velvet rope. One reporter was allowed across the rope to put the same question, in exactly the same words, as he had put when Chirac had been nearing the end of his first term: Would he perhaps consider standing for a further five years?

   - Julian Barnes,{it}New York Review{/it},29 Mar. 2007

2. And swirling all around were coteries of agents, managers, execs, and moneymen; publicists and journalists, gawkers and "sycophants".

   - Daniel Fierman et al.,{it}Entertainment Weekly{/it},9 June 2006

3. Where his father liked to have "sycophants", he likes to be with intellectuals. He likes confrontation.

   - Franklin Foer,{it}New Republic{/it},14 Jan. 2002

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Culture

Any cultural, historical, or symbolic significance of the word. Explore how the word has been used in literature, art, music, or other forms of expression.

The term 'sycophant' has been used throughout history to describe individuals who are excessively flattering or fawning towards those in power. In literature, the sycophant is often portrayed as a negative character, as they are seen as insincere and manipulative.

How to Memorize "sycophant"

1. visualize
   

   - Imagine a person bowing and scraping before someone important, constantly praising them and trying to curry favor.
   - Visualize the word 'sycophant' as a mask, representing the false face that someone wears when they are being insincerely flattering.

2. associate
   

   - Associate the word 'sycophant' with the image of a dog fawning over its owner.
   - Think of the term 'kissing up' to someone in power, which is a common behavior of a sycophant.

3. mnemonics
   

   - Remember that a sycophant is someone who 'sucks up' to those in power.
   - Use the acronym 'SLY' to remember the meaning of sycophant: Sucking Up to Lyrically flatter.

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