Etymology of the English word sycophant
the English word
sycophantderived from the Latin word
sycophanta (informer, trickster)
derived from the Greek word
sukophantes, συκοφάντης
derived from the Greek word
sukon, σῦκον (a fig)
derived from the Late Greek word
phainein, φαίνω (to display; to show)
derived from the Proto-Indo-European root
*bha-derived from the Proto-Indo-European root
*bhā-Date
The earliest known usage of sycophant in English dates from the 16th century.
Usage
Word found in Modern English
