Meaning:
a person who acts obsequiously toward someone important in order to gain advantage

Explanation:
A sycophant is someone who flatters influential people excessively, often to gain favor or personal advantage. Their behavior is typically characterized by insincerity, as they may praise or compliment without genuine belief in their statements, all for ulterior motives.

History:
The word 'sycophant' originates from the Ancient Greek word 'sykophantēs', where 'sykon' means fig and 'phainō' means to show. Initially, it referred to informers who accused others of wrongdoing, particularly related to fig theft, but over time evolved to denote someone who seeks to curry favor through insincere flattery.