Sycophancy

Sycophancy

Sycophancy means:[1]

  1. Obsequious flattery; servility.
  2. The character or characteristic of a sycophant.

Alternative phrases are often used such as:

Contents

Etymology

The Greek for sycophant is συκοφάντης (sykophántēs). It suggests someone who brings all kinds of charges and proves none, according to a client of Demosthenes.[2] A client of Lysias adds the perspective of blackmail: "It is their practice to bring charges even against those who have done no wrong. For from these they would gain most profit." [3] In this context, the word entails false accusation, malicious prosecution, and abuse of legal process for mischievous or fraudulent purposes.

The Greek root 'sukophantēs' literally translates as 'a person showing a fig' ('Sukon' / sykos / συκος fig, and phainein / fanēs / φανης to show). The fig having been a symbol used in making an accusation, itself probably a development from accuser to informer/flatterer.[4]

In Ancient Greece, the word was the Athenian counterpart of the Roman delator, a public informer. In modern Greek the term has retained its ancient classical meaning, and is still used to describe a slanderer or a calumniator.

See also

References

Further reading

  • Clark LP A Psychological Study of Sycophancy. Psychoanalytic Review 21:15-39 (1934)
  • Lofberg, John Oscar, Sycophancy in Athens (2008)

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Synonyms:

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  • Sycophancy — Syc o*phan*cy, n. [Cf. L. sycophantia deceit, Gr. ? false accusation.] The character or characteristic of a sycophant. Hence: [1913 Webster] (a) False accusation; calumniation; talebearing. [Obs.] Bp. Hall. [1913 Webster] (b) Obsequious flattery; …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • sycophancy — 1620s, from L. sycophantia, from Gk. sykophantia, from sykophantes (see SYCOPHANT (Cf. sycophant)) …   Etymology dictionary

  • sycophancy — [sik′ə fən sē, sik′əfan΄sē] n. pl. sycophancies [L sycophantia < Gr sykophantia] the behavior or character, or an act, of a sycophant; servile flattery …   English World dictionary

  • sycophancy — [[t]sɪ̱kəfænsi, AM fənsi[/t]] N UNCOUNT (disapproval) Sycophancy is the quality or action of being sycophantic. [FORMAL] …   English dictionary

  • sycophancy — sycophant ► NOUN ▪ a person who flatters someone important in a servile way. DERIVATIVES sycophancy noun sycophantic adjective. ORIGIN originally denoting an informer: from Greek sukophant s, from sukon fig + phainein to show , perhaps with… …   English terms dictionary

  • sycophancy — noun Date: 1637 obsequious flattery; also the character or behavior of a sycophant …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • sycophancy — /sik euh feuhn see, fan , suy keuh /, n. 1. self seeking or servile flattery. 2. the character or conduct of a sycophant. [1615 25; < L sycophantia trickery < Gk sykophantía dishonest prosecution, equiv. to sykophant (see SYCOPHANT) + ia Y3; see… …   Universalium

  • sycophancy — noun The fawning behavior of a sycophant; servile flattery …   Wiktionary

  • sycophancy — Synonyms and related words: adulation, apple polishing, ass kissing, backbiting, backscratching, backstabbing, belittlement, blandishment, blarney, bootlicking, brown nosing, bunkum, cajolement, cajolery, calumny, compliment, cringing, defamation …   Moby Thesaurus

  • sycophancy — syc·o·phan·cy || sɪkÉ™fÉ™nsɪ / fænsɪ n. excessive flattery, obsequiousness …   English contemporary dictionary

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