Sycophant

sik′ō-fant, n. a common informer: a servile flatterer.— n. Syc′ophancy , the behaviour of a sycophant: mean tale-bearing: obsequious flattery: servility—also Sycophant′ism .— adjs. Sycophant′ic , -al , Sycophant′ish , like a sycophant: obsequiously flattering: parasitic.— v.i. Syc′ophantise .— adv. Syc′ophantishly .— n. Syc′ophantry , the arts of the sycophant. [Gr. sykophantēs , usually said to mean one who informed against persons exporting figs from Attica or plundering the sacred fig-trees; but more prob. one who brings figs to light by shaking the tree, hence one who makes rich men yield up their fruit by informations and other vile arts— sykon , a fig, phainein , to show.]