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sycophancy

[sik-uh-fuh n-see, -fan-, sahy-kuh-]
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noun
  1. self-seeking or servile flattery.
  2. the character or conduct of a sycophant.
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Origin of sycophancy

1615–25; < Latin sȳcophantia trickery < Greek sȳkophantía dishonest prosecution, equivalent to sȳkophant- (see sycophant) + -ia -y3; see -cy
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for sycophancy

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • There was no sycophancy on the part of the young man, no patronage on that of the employer.

    Macaria

    Augusta Jane Evans Wilson

  • Much of this sycophancy is due to the poverty of the educated classes.

  • Sycophancy was as acceptable as real regard, since each catered to his vanity.

    The Lady Doc

    Caroline Lockhart

  • The President, however, was growing weary of his own sycophancy.

  • The whole teaching profession is honeycombed with sycophancy.

    Meccania

    Owen Gregory

Word Origin and History for sycophancy

n.

1620s, from Latin sycophantia, from Greek sykophantia, from sykophantes (see sycophant).

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper