Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

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.

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.

Sycophant \Syc"o*phant\, v. i.
   To play the sycophant.

Source : WordNet®

sycophant
     n : a person who tries to please someone in order to gain a
         personal advantage [syn: {toady}, {crawler}, {lackey}]