συκοφάντης σῡκο-φάντης, ου, ὁ, φαίνω a false accuser, slanderer, Ar., etc.; (never used in the modern sense of sycophant, i. e. κόλαξ) :—generally, a false adviser, Dem. (Commonly derived from σῦκον, φαίνω, one who informed against persons exporting figs from Attica: better perh. a fig-shewer, i. e. one who brings figs to light by shaking the tree (the figs having been hidden in the thick foliage); and then, metaph., one who makes rich men yield up their fruit by false accusations).