different between sycophant vs fawner

English

Etymology

First attested in 1537. From Latin s?cophanta (“informer, trickster”), from Ancient Greek ?????????? (sukophánt?s), itself from ????? (sûkon, “fig”) + ????? (phaín?, “I show, demonstrate”). The gesture of "showing the fig" was a vulgar one, which was made by sticking the thumb between two fingers, a display which vaguely resembles a fig, which is itself symbolic of a ????? (sûkon), which also meant vulva. The story behind this etymology is that politicians in ancient Greece steered clear of displaying that vulgar gesture, but urged their followers sub rosa to taunt their opponents by using it.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?s?k?fænt/, /?s?k?f?nt/, /?sa?k?fænt/, /?sa?k?f?nt/

Noun

sycophant (plural sycophants)

1. One who uses obsequious compliments to gain self-serving favor or advantage from another; a servile flatterer.

   Synonyms: ass-kisser, brown noser, suck up, yes man; see also Thesaurus:sycophant

   • 1683, John Dryden, “The Art of Poetry”, Canto I:

     A sycophant will everything admire: / Each verse, each sentence, sets his soul on fire

2. One who seeks to gain through the powerful and influential.

   Synonyms: parasite, flunky, lackey; see also Thesaurus:sycophant

3. (obsolete) An informer; a talebearer.
   • 1580, Sir Philip Sidney, The Countess of Pembroke's Arcadia, Book II:

     […] his mind had no eye to espy goodness; and therefore accusing sycophants, of all men, did best sort to his nature.

Derived terms

Translations

Verb

sycophant (third-person singular simple present sycophants, present participle sycophanting, simple past and past participle sycophanted)

1. (transitive) To inform against; hence, to calumniate.
   • 1642, John Milton, Apology for Smectymnuus:

     As therefore he began in the title, so in the next leaf he makes it his first business to tamper with his reader by sycophanting and misnaming the work of his adversary.

2. (transitive) To play the sycophant toward; to flatter obsequiously.

Further reading

• sycophant on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

English

Etymology

fawn +? -er

Noun

fawner (plural fawners)

1. One who fawns; a sycophant.

Translations