A sycophant is a person who flatters and ingratiates themselves to someone in a servile manner, often for personal gain or to gain favor. They tend to excessively praise and seek approval from others, often to the point of insincerity.
Interesting fact: The term “sycophant” originated in ancient Greece, where it referred to individuals who would inform on others to the authorities in order to gain favor or advantage. The word itself comes from the Greek words “sykophantes,” which means “informer” or “accuser,” and “sykon,” which means “fig.” This is because in ancient Greece, figs were used as a symbol of bribery, and informers were often paid with figs.