SYCOPHANT


Meaning of SYCOPHANT in English

/ ˈsɪkəfænt; NAmE / noun

( formal , disapproving ) a person who praises important or powerful people too much and in a way that is not sincere, especially in order to get sth from them

►  syco·phancy / ˈsɪkəfənsi; NAmE / noun [ U ]

►  syco·phan·tic / ˌsɪkəˈfæntɪk; NAmE / adjective :

a sycophantic review

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WORD ORIGIN

mid 16th cent. (denoting an informer): from French sycophante , or via Latin from Greek sukophantēs informer, from sukon fig + phainein to show, perhaps with reference to making the insulting gesture of the “fig” (sticking the thumb between two fingers) to informers.

Oxford Advanced Learner's English Dictionary.      Оксфордский английский словарь для изучающик язык на продвинутом уровне.