n. a servile flatterer; a toady. sycophancy n. sycophantic adj. sycophantically adv.
[ F sycophante or L sycophanta f. Gk sukophantes informer f. sukon fig + phaino show: the reason for the name is uncert., and association with informing against the illegal exportation of figs from ancient Athens (recorded by Plutarch) cannot be substantiated ]