ˈsikəfənsē, -nsi sometimes ˈsīk- noun
( -es )
Etymology: Latin sycophantia, from Greek sykophantia, from sykophantēs + -ia -y
1. : the spreading of slanderous accusations : defamation ; especially : the informing practiced in ancient Athens
2.
a. : base or obsequious flattery : toadying
as deplorable as the bootlicking sycophancy which they displayed — R.L.Riggs
there has ever been and ever will be found sycophancy on the side of power — F.W.Robertson
b. : the characteristic of a servile flatterer or toady
had seen the straightforwardness of many boys from the bush turn into whining sycophancy when they came to the coast — Esther Warner