sycophancy

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)
sycophancy
    n 1: fawning obsequiousness
    
from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Sycophancy \Syc"o*phan*cy\, n. [Cf. L. sycophantia deceit, Gr. ?
   false accusation.]
   The character or characteristic of a sycophant. Hence: 
   [1913 Webster]
   (a) False accusation; calumniation; talebearing. [Obs.] --Bp.
       Hall.
       [1913 Webster]
   (b) Obsequious flattery; servility.
       [1913 Webster]

             The sycophancy of A.Philips had prejudiced Mr.
             Addison against Pope.                --Bp.
                                                  Warburton.
       [1913 Webster]
    
from Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0
59 Moby Thesaurus words for "sycophancy":
      adulation, apple-polishing, ass-kissing, backbiting,
      backscratching, backstabbing, belittlement, blandishment, blarney,
      bootlicking, brown-nosing, bunkum, cajolement, cajolery, calumny,
      compliment, cringing, defamation, depreciation, disparagement,
      eyewash, fair words, fawnery, fawning, flattery, flunkyism,
      footlicking, grease, groveling, handshaking, honeyed phrases,
      honeyed words, incense, ingratiation, insinuation,
      mealymouthedness, obeisance, obsequiousness, oil, palaver,
      parasitism, praise, pretty lies, prostration, scandal, slander,
      soap, soft soap, sponging, sweet nothings, sweet talk, sweet words,
      timeserving, toadeating, toadying, toadyism, truckling,
      tufthunting, wheedling

    

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