1579 T. North tr. Plutarch Liues 101 We maye not altogether discredit those which saye, they did forbid in the olde time that men should carie figges out of the countrie of Attica, and that from thence it came that these picke thanckes, which bewraye & accuse them that transported figges, were called Sycophantes.

1656 T. Stanley Hist. Philos. II. v. 37 Crobulus the Sycophant met him, accompanying Chabrias to the Tower, and said unto him, Do you come to help others, you know not that the poyson of Socrates is reserved for you?

1748 D. Hume Human Understanding in Ess. xi If Epicurus had been accused before the people by any of the sycophants or informers of those days.

1838 C. Thirlwall Hist. Greece (new ed.) IV. xxxi. 181 A class of men who were universally odious,..the informers, or sycophants as they were called at Athens, who had perverted the laws [etc.].

1537 T. Cromwell in R. B. Merriman Life & Lett. T. Cromwell (1902) II. 84 Whereas Michael Throgmerton..hathe..taken vppon him..to become bothe a Sicophanta in Writing and a most vnkynde deuiser..of thinges most..traytorous against hys sayd Souereigne lorde.]

1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry IV f. ij^v He..was very glad (as tell tales and scicophantes bee..) to declare to the kyng what he had heard.

1561 B. Googe in tr. ‘M. Palingenius’ Zodiake of Life (new ed.) To Rdr. sig. a8^v Who can scape the poisened lips of slandrous sicophants?

1612 T. Taylor Αρχὴν Ἁπάντων: Comm. Epist. Paul to Titus (iii. 2) 568 As sycophants who make the scapes of men farre greater then they are.

1697 J. Potter Archæologiæ Græcæ I. i. xxi. 114 All busie Informers have ever since been branded with the Name of Sycophants.

1575 G. Gascoigne Glasse of Gouernem. Prol. sig. Aiii^v What subtile snares these Sycophantes can vse.

a1634 W. Austin Devotionis Augustinianæ Flamma (1635) 224 Such is his [sc. the Pope's] power, attributed to him by his Sycophants that there can bee no Saints but of his making!

1702 N. Rowe Tamerlane i. i A noble Freedom..unknown to fawning Sycophants.

c1740 Visct. Bolingbroke Idea Patriot King viii. 68 Crowds of Spies Parasites and Sycophants, will surround the Throne under the Patronage of such Ministers.

1843 W. H. Prescott Hist. Conquest Mexico I. ii. i. 193 The young monarch was accompanied by a swarm of courtly sycophants.

1877 M. Oliphant Makers of Florence (ed. 2) x. 252 The real sentiments of this great prince..were very different from those of his sycophants.

?1589 T. Nashe Almond for Parrat 16 Am not I old Ille ego qui quondam at y^e besleeuing of a sichophant?

1606 G. Chapman Gentleman Vsher v. sig. I4^v Presumptuous Sicophant, I will haue thy life.

1651 R. Wittie tr. J. Primrose Pop. Errours 163 The good man Daniel Sennertus,..being deceived by a Germane sycophant.

1653 T. Gataker Vindic. Annot. Jer. 10.2 13 It is not any spurious or seditious doctrine in their Teachers, by this foul-mouthed Sycophant, so falsely fathered upon Calvin.

1728 E. Chambers Cycl. Sycophant,..the Term became used..at last, for a Lyer, Imposter, &c.

a1684 J. Evelyn Diary anno 1657 (1955) III. 190 The Protector..now affecting King-ship, is petition'd to take the Title on him, by all his new-made sycophant Lords.

1692 In Praise of Epictetus in E. Walker tr. Epictetus Enchiridion sig. A3 The bended knee Of Sycophant Servility.

1747 S. Richardson Clarissa II. xxiv. 148 A sycophant creature!

1763 J. Wilkes Corr. (1805) I. 236 This sycophant court language.

1848 C. Brontë Jane Eyre (ed. 2) Pref. p. x Ahab did not like Micaiah, because he never prophesied good concerning him..probably he liked the sycophant son of Chenaannah better.

1602 B. Jonson Poetaster v. iii. sig. L2 An honest Sycophant-like Slaue. View more context for this quotation

a1616 R. Niccols Beggers Ape (1627) sig. B3 With Sycophantlike trickes, hee tooke delight, With euery Iacke to play the Parasite.

1674 Govt. Tongue viii. 150 His Sycophanting arts being detected.

1704 J. Macmillan in H. M. B. Reid Cameronian Apostle (1896) App. i. 223 A sycophanting age.