Sycophant

Tuesday 11^th October 2016

Sycophant - /ˈsɪkəfant/

Noun

A person who acts obsequiously towards someone important in order to gain advantage.

Example sentences

Noun

‘However, they’re surrounded by sycophants, so they hardly ever get any constructive criticism’

‘Needless to say, if you only look at what your sycophants write, you’re not going to gain much’

Origin

Mid 16th century (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.

Thanks to: www.oxforddictionaries.com