Where does “sycophantism” come from?
sycophantism (English) comes from English sycophant, from Latin sȳcophanta, from Ancient Greek συκοφάντης, from Ancient Greek φαίνω, from English -type, from Ancient Greek τύπος, from Ancient Greek τύπτω, from Proto-Indo-European (s)tewp- — to push, to hit.
sycophantism (English): Sycophantic behaviour
Definitions
- Sycophantic behaviour
Ancestry of “sycophantism”, step by step
sycophantism traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English sycophant
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | sycophant | One who uses obsequious compliments to gain... |
| 2 | Latin | sȳcophanta | a snitch, informant |
| 3 | Ancient Greek | συκοφάντης | informant, denouncer; professional swindler |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | φαίνω | I cause to appear, bring to light; I show,... |
| 5 | English | -type | impressed form; stamp; print; typical form; Used... |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | τύπος | A blow, pressing; The results of a blow: mark,... |
| 7 | Ancient Greek | τύπτω | to beat, strike, smite; to beat, strike oneself |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | (s)tewp- | to push, to stick |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | (s)tew- | to push, to hit |
via English ism
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | ism | An ideology, system of thought, or practice that... |
| 2 | English | -ism | Used to form nouns of action or process or result... |
| 3 | Latin | -ismus | -ism |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | -ισμός | Forms abstract nouns |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | -μός | Forms abstract nouns |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | -mós | Creates action/result nouns from verb stems |