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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

Sycophant \Syc"o*phant\, n. [L. sycophanta a slanderer,
deceiver, parasite, Gr. ? a false accuser, false adviser,
literally, a fig shower; ? a fig ? to show: cf. F.
sycophante. The reason for the name is not certainly known.
See {Phenomenon}.]
1. An informer; a talebearer. [Obs.] "Accusing sycophants, of
all men, did best sort to his nature." --Sir P. Sidney.
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2. A base parasite; a mean or servile flatterer; especially,
a flatterer of princes and great men.
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A sycophant will everything admire:
Each verse, each sentence, sets his soul on fire.
--Dryden.
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Sycophant \Syc"o*phant\, v. t. [CF. L. sycophantari to deceive,
to trick, Gr. ?.]
1. To inform against; hence, to calumniate. [Obs.]
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Sycophanting and misnaming the work of his
adversary. --Milton.
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2. To play the sycophant toward; to flatter obsequiously.
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Sycophant \Syc"o*phant\, v. i.
To play the sycophant.
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