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sycophantmore about sycophant

sycophant

 

  5  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  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. 
 
  2.  A  base  parasite;  a  mean  or  servile  flatterer;  especially, 
  a  flatterer  of  princes  and  great  men. 
 
  A  sycophant  will  everything  admire:  Each  verse,  each 
  sentence,  sets  his  soul  on  fire.  --Dryden. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Sycophant  \Syc"o*phant\,  v.  t.  [CF.  L.  sycophantari  to  deceive, 
  to  trick,  Gr  ?.] 
  1.  To  inform  against;  hence  to  calumniate.  [Obs.] 
 
  Sycophanting  and  misnaming  the  work  of  his 
  adversary.  --Milton. 
 
  2.  To  play  the  sycophant  toward;  to  flatter  obsequiously. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Sycophant  \Syc"o*phant\,  v.  i. 
  To  play  the  sycophant. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  sycophant 
  n  :  a  person  who  tries  to  please  someone  in  order  to  gain  a 
  personal  advantage  [syn:  {toady},  {crawler},  {lackey}] 
 
  From  THE  DEVIL'S  DICTIONARY  ((C)1911  Released  April  15  1993)  [devils]: 
 
  SYCOPHANT,  n.  One  who  approaches  Greatness  on  his  belly  so  that  he 
  may  not  be  commanded  to  turn  and  be  kicked.  He  is  sometimes  an 
  editor. 
 
  As  the  lean  leech,  its  victim  found  is  pleased 
  To  fix  itself  upon  a  part  diseased 
  Till,  its  black  hide  distended  with  bad  blood, 
  It  drops  to  die  of  surfeit  in  the  mud, 
  So  the  base  sycophant  with  joy  descries 
  His  neighbor's  weak  spot  and  his  mouth  applies, 
  Gorges  and  prospers  like  the  leech,  although, 
  Unlike  that  reptile,  he  will  not  let  go 
  Gelasma,  if  it  paid  you  to  devote 
  Your  talent  to  the  service  of  a  goat, 
  Showing  by  forceful  logic  that  its  beard 
  Is  more  than  Aaron's  fit  to  be  revered; 
  If  to  the  task  of  honoring  its  smell 
  Profit  had  prompted  you  and  love  as  well 
  The  world  would  benefit  at  last  by  you 
  And  wealthy  malefactors  weep  anew  -- 
  Your  favor  for  a  moment's  space  denied 
  And  to  the  nobler  object  turned  aside. 
  Is't  not  enough  that  thrifty  millionaires 
  Who  loot  in  freight  and  spoliate  in  fares, 
  Or  cursed  with  consciences  that  bid  them  fly 
  To  safer  villainies  of  darker  dye, 
  Forswearing  robbery  and  fain,  instead, 
  To  steal  (they  call  it  "cornering")  our  bread 
  May  see  you  groveling  their  boots  to  lick 
  And  begging  for  the  favor  of  a  kick? 
  Still  must  you  follow  to  the  bitter  end 
  Your  sycophantic  disposition's  trend, 
  And  in  your  eagerness  to  please  the  rich 
  Hunt  hungry  sinners  to  their  final  ditch? 
  In  Morgan's  praise  you  smite  the  sounding  wire, 
  And  sing  hosannas  to  great  Havemeyher! 
  What's  Satan  done  that  him  you  should  eschew? 
  He  too  is  reeking  rich  --  deducting  _you_.




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