In modern English, sycophant denotes an "insincere flatterer" and is used to refer to someone practising sycophancy … See more

The origin of the Ancient Greek word συκοφάντης (sykophántēs) is a matter of debate, but disparages the unjustified accuser who has in some way perverted the legal system.
The origina… See more

The traditional view is that the opprobrium against sycophants was attached to the bringing of an unjustified complaint, hoping either to obtain the payment for a successful case, or to blackmail the defendant i… See more

In daily use, the term συκοφάντης refers to someone that purposely spreads lies about a person, in order to harm this person’s reputation, or otherwise insult his honor (i.e. a slanderer), and συκοφαντία is doing so (i.e. slande… See more

The word sycophant entered the English and French languages in the mid-16th century, and originally had the same meaning in English and French (sycophante) as in Greek, a false accuser. Today, in G… See more