---
title: sycophantic — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «sycophantic» in the school dictionary: Sycophantic means praising and agreeing with a powerful or important person too much, in a fake way, to get something from them. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# sycophantic

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Sycophantic, sycophantic servants, king, idea, sycophantic praise, His · **What happens:** mean, praise, agree, get, tell, have · **To what, where:** something, king, idea, everyone cringe, boss, honest opinion · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«sycophantic» in the school dictionary: its meaning for a pupil and its 7 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [sycophantic in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/sycophantic.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sycophantic means praising and agreeing with a powerful or important person too much, in a fake way, to get something from them.

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sycophantic:m1:1
# text = Sycophantic means praising and agreeing with a powerful or important person too much, in a fake way, to get something from them.
1	Sycophantic	Sycophantic	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	praising	praise	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	xcomp	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	agreeing	agree	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	conj	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
8	powerful	powerful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	important	important	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	conj	_	_
11	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
12	too	too	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	_
13	much	much	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
15	in	in	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
17	fake	fake	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	_
18	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
20	to	to	PART	TO	_	21	mark	_	_
21	get	get	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
22	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	21	obj	_	_
23	from	from	ADP	IN	_	24	case	_	_
24	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	21	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Sycophantic |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **praise** *not said to happen* | gerund | Sycophantic *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn judgment-33.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **agree** *speech: agree* | gerund | Sycophantic *not said here* |  |  |  |  | with a powerful person and a fake way | vn correspond-36.1-1 «NP V PP.co-agent how S»: agent=Agent with person=Co-Agent |
| 4 | **get** | to-infinitive | Sycophantic *not said here* | something |  |  |  | from person | vn get-13.5.1-1 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Agent something=Theme from they=Source |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The sycophantic servants told the king every idea he had was brilliant.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sycophantic:x1:1
# text = The sycophantic servants told the king every idea he had was brilliant.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	sycophantic	sycophantic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	servants	servant	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	told	tell	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	king	king	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	8	det	_	_
8	idea	idea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
9	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
10	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	acl:relcl	_	_
11	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
12	brilliant	brilliant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tell** *speech: assert* | past | the sycophantic servants |  | the king |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent king=Recipient |
| 2 | **have** | past | king | every idea *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent idea=Patient |
| 3 | **is** | past | every idea |  |  |  |  | brilliant *property* | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
His sycophantic praise of the boss made everyone cringe.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sycophantic:x2:1
# text = His sycophantic praise of the boss made everyone cringe.
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	sycophantic	sycophantic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	praise	praise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	boss	boss	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
7	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	everyone	everyone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Tot	9	compound	_	_
9	cringe	cringe	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | His sycophantic praise of the boss | everyone cringe |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset cringe=Product |
| 2 | **praise** |  | His *= he* | the boss |  |  |  |  | nom praise «communication transitive»: poss=agent of=patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't be sycophantic; give your honest opinion.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sycophantic:x3:1
# text = Don't be sycophantic; give your honest opinion.
1	Do	do	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
3	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	cop	_	_
4	sycophantic	sycophantic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	6	punct	_	_
6	give	give	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	1	conj	_	_
7	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
8	honest	honest	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	opinion	opinion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **not** **is** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | sycophantic *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **give** | infinitive | you *not said here* | your honest opinion |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent opinion=Theme |
| 4 | **opine** |  | your |  |  |  |  |  | nom opinion «cognition transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the fable, the fox's sycophantic words tricked the crow into dropping the cheese.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sycophantic:x4:1
# text = In the fable, the fox's sycophantic words tricked the crow into dropping the cheese.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	fable	fable	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	fox	fox	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	's	's	PART	POS	_	6	case	_	_
8	sycophantic	sycophantic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nsubj	_	_
10	tricked	trick	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	crow	crow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	_
13	into	into	SCONJ	IN	_	14	mark	_	_
14	dropping	drop	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	10	advcl	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	cheese	cheese	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **trick** | past | the fox's sycophantic words | the crow |  | the fable |  |  | vn trick-59.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent crow=Patient |
| 2 | **drop** | gerund | the fox's sycophantic words *not said here* | the cheese |  |  |  |  | vn put\_direction-9.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent cheese=Theme |
| 3 | **word** |  | the fox |  |  |  |  |  | nom word «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The emperor's sycophantic advisers praised his invisible clothes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sycophantic:x5:1
# text = The emperor's sycophantic advisers praised his invisible clothes.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	emperor	emperor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	sycophantic	sycophantic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	advisers	adviser	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
6	praised	praise	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
8	invisible	invisible	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	clothes	clothes	NOUN	NNS	Number=Ptan	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **praise** | past | the emperor's sycophantic advisers | his invisible clothes |  |  |  |  | vn judgment-33.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent clothes=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A good friend tells you the truth, not sycophantic flattery.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sycophantic:x6:1
# text = A good friend tells you the truth, not sycophantic flattery.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	friend	friend	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	tells	tell	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	4	iobj	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	truth	truth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
9	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	11	advmod	_	_
10	sycophantic	sycophantic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	flattery	flattery	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tell** *speech: assert* | present | a good friend | the truth and sycophantic flattery | you |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent you=Recipient truth=Topic |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The film's villain was surrounded by sycophantic followers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sycophantic:x7:1
# text = The film's villain was surrounded by sycophantic followers.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	film	film	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	villain	villain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj:pass	_	_
5	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux:pass	_	_
6	surrounded	surround	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
7	by	by	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	sycophantic	sycophantic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	followers	follower	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl:agent	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **surround** | past · passive | sycophantic followers | the film's villain |  |  |  |  | vn contiguous\_location-47.8 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme subject=Co-Theme |

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**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

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