συκοφαντία
Μισῶ γε μέντοι χὤταν ἐν κακοῖσί τις ἁλοὺς ἔπειτα τοῦτο καλλύνειν θέλῃ → I hate it when someone is caught in the midst of their evil deeds and tries to gloss over them
English (LSJ)
ἡ,
A vexatious or dishonest prosecution, chicane, barratry, blackmail, Lys.4.14, 28.6 (pl.), X.HG2.3.12, D.18.249, Charondas ap.D.S.12.12; σ. τοῖς πράγμασι προσάγειν employ chicane in the case, D.19.98; τοῖς οἰκείοις σ. δέδωκεν has given them an opportunity for chicane, Id.23.67, cf. POxy. 472.33 (ii A.D.); contrasted with φήμη, Aeschin.2.145; [γραφὴ] συκοφαντίας Arist.Ath.59.3; συκοφαντίας αὐτοῦ κατέγνωτε Lys.13.65. 2 oppression, σ. πένητος LXX Ec.5.7, cf. Ps.118(119).134; extortion, PTeb.43.36 (ii B.C.); τὸ τακτὸν εἰς τὸ πρόστιμον τῆς σ. PFlor.6.6 (iii A.D.). II quibble, sophism, Arist.Rh. 1402a15, cf. EE1221b7.
