Calling someone a sycophant isn’t a compliment; it means they flatter those in power in order to gain their approval. The Greek meaning of “sȳkophántēs” is literally “one who shows the fig,” which likely referred to a gesture meant to ward off evil. When the word appeared in English, it departed completely from its Greek origin. English writers in the 16th century used the word “sycophant” in reference to slanderous individuals who were in the protection of powerful people. Once the word became associated with ill-willed people close to those in power, it became a noun for those giving obsequious flattery.