sycophancy

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 -CY]

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Universalium. 2010.

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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 — For fawning in the sense of a musical term, see Accarezzévole. Sycophancy means:[1] Obsequious flattery; servility. The character or characteristic of a sycophant. Alternative phrases are often used such as: apple polishing …   Wikipedia

  • 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 — 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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