sycophant subsequent recent posting origin word sycophant received two comments add interesting insights forwarding information richard blucher dave wharton whartond iris uncg edu liddel scott _ greek english lexicon _ shows word sykophanths common usage middle 5th century b c ancient uses show relation word sign fig political context use 5th century later oxford classical dictionary athens public prosecutors modern sense solon permitted citizens prosecute wrongdoers inducements offered volunteers certain cases granting liberal share fines moneys recovered treasury system worked lack prosecutors c 450 b c abuses appeared men began make profession prosecutions personal political financial reasons called sycophants spite constant references aristophanes orators survives legal definition sycophant dangerous type sycophant blackmailer extorted money guilty escaped punishment innocent paid blackmail zqv6656 acfcluster nyu edu belated comment query sign fig homeland e istria adriatic peninsula northwestern part croatia former yugoslavia use sign two related meanings first one one mentioned many people responded e sign defiance strong rejection sexual indecent connotation second use good luck sing much crossed fingers america done hands either somebody else maybe defiance bad luck devil etc zvjezdana vrzic