συκοφάντης: Difference between revisions

|Definition=ου, ὁ, <span class="sense"><p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span class="bld">A</span> <b class="b2">common informer, voluntary denouncer</b> (there being no Public Prosecutor), e.g. of contraband imports, <b class="b3">καὶ σ. εἴ τις ἦν ὠνείδισας</b>; did you dare to reproach a ς.? <span class="bibl">Ar.<span class="title">Ach.</span>559</span>, cf. <span class="bibl">725</span>,<span class="bibl">825</span>; of unlawful possession, <span class="bibl">Id.<span class="title">Pl.</span>873</span>,<span class="bibl">879</span>,<span class="bibl">885</span>; of disaffection to Athens, <span class="bibl">Isoc.15.313</span> (cf. 316-18); <b class="b3">κλητήρ εἰμι νησιωτικὸς καὶ σ</b>. <span class="bibl">Ar.<span class="title">Av.</span>1423</span>; the ς. became notorious as pettifoggers, <span class="bibl">Lycurg.31</span> (cf. <span class="bibl">Ar.<span class="title">Ach.</span>920</span> -<span class="bibl">4</span>), <span class="bibl">D.20.62</span>, vexatious prosecutors of innocent persons esp. if rich, <span class="bibl">Lys.25.3</span>, <span class="bibl">D.57.34</span>, and blackmailers, <span class="bibl">Antipho 5.78</span>,80, <span class="bibl">Lys.7.20</span>, <span class="bibl">And.1.105</span>, <span class="bibl">D.21.103</span>, <span class="bibl">58.27</span>, <span class="bibl">Aeschin.2.5</span>, <span class="bibl">3.256</span>, <span class="bibl">Hyp.<span class="title">Lyc.</span>2</span>, Theopomp. Hist.<span class="bibl">107</span>,<span class="bibl">267</span>, <span class="bibl">Luc.<span class="title">Tim.</span>36</span>; having thus abused their legal powers, they were treated as criminals, [οἱ τριάκοντα] τοὺς σ… ἀνῄρουν <span class="bibl">Arist.<span class="title">Ath.</span>35.3</span>, cf. <span class="bibl">X.<span class="title">HG</span>2.3.38</span>, <span class="bibl">Isoc.15.313</span>, <span class="bibl">18.3</span>; συκοφαντῶν προβολαί <span class="bibl">Arist.<span class="title">Ath.</span>43.5</span>, cf. <span class="bibl">Aeschin.2.145</span>; they were numerous in democracies, <span class="bibl">Thphr.<span class="title">Char.</span>26.5</span>; <b class="b3">χρῆν . . ἐγγίγνεσθαι . . πάσῃ δημοκρατίᾳ σ</b>. <span class="bibl">Plu.<span class="title">Tim.</span>37</span>; <b class="b3">δημαγωγῶν πλῆθος καὶ σ</b>. at Syracuse, <span class="bibl">D.S.11.87</span>; rarer in oligarchies, e.g. Boeotia, <span class="bibl">Ar.<span class="title">Ach.</span>904</span>; <b class="b3">βασιλεὺς ἐνδεὴς προσόδων μέγας σ</b>. a great [[extortioner]], <span class="bibl">LXX <span class="title">Pr.</span>28.16</span>. </span><span class="sense">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span class="bld">2</span> in New Com., <b class="b2">professional swindler</b> or <b class="b2">confidential agent</b>, <b class="b3">πράττει δ' ὁ κόλαξ ἄριστα πάντων, δεύτερα ὁ σ</b>. <span class="bibl">Men.223.17</span>, cf. <span class="title">Georg. Fr.</span>1, <span class="bibl">Philippid.29</span>: so in Lat. [[sycophanta]], Plaut.<span class="title">Poen.</span>1032, <span class="title">Trin.</span> 815, Ter.<span class="title">Andr.</span>815; [[humbug]], Favorin. ap. Gell.14.1.32. </span><span class="sense">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span class="bld">3</span> = Lat. [[delator]], ὁ πικρὸς σ. Ἰσίδωρος <span class="bibl">Ph.2.597</span>, cf. <span class="title">OGI</span>669.41 (Egypt, i A.D.), <span class="title">Cod.Just.</span>1.4.34.17, al. (From <b class="b3">σῦκον φαίνειν</b>, orig. used of denouncers of the attempted export of figs from Athens, acc. to <span class="bibl">Ister 35</span>, <span class="bibl">Plu. <span class="title">Sol.</span>24</span>, <span class="bibl">2.523b</span>; orig. of citizens entrusted with the collection of figs as part of the public revenues of Athens and the denouncing of tax-evaders, acc. to <span class="bibl">Philomnest.1</span>; of denouncers of figs which had been stolen from the sacred fig-trees during a famine and had become cheap, the famine having passed, Sch.<span class="bibl">Ar.<span class="title">Pl.</span>31</span>, cf. Fest. p.393 L.; these and modern explanations are mere guesses; the word first in Ar. but implied by <b class="b3">συκοπέδιλος</b>.)</span>

|etymtx=Grammatical information: m.<br />Meaning: [[false accuser]], [[denunciator]], later also [[trickster]], [[cadger]] (Ar.).<br />Other forms: Besides <b class="b3">συκοφάσεις</b> pl. = <b class="b3">συκοφαντίαι</b> (AP; after <b class="b3">ἀποφάσεις</b> a.o.).<br />Derivatives: <b class="b3">συκοφαντ-έω</b> <b class="b2">act as denunciator, accuse falsely, to practise blackmail</b>, <b class="b3">-ία</b> f. <b class="b2">false accusation</b>, <b class="b3">-ίας</b> m. (<b class="b3">ἄνεμος</b>) "wind of accusations" (joking formation; Ar.), <b class="b3">-ημα</b> n. = <b class="b3">-ία</b>, <b class="b3">-ικός</b> und <b class="b3">-ώδης</b> [[slanderous]] (Att. etc.). Fem. <b class="b3">συκοφάντρια</b> (Ar.; Fraenkel Nom. ag. 2, 25).<br />Origin: GR [a formation built with Greek elements]<br />Etymology: Expression of popular language, prop. "fig-indicator", already in antiquity diff. explained. According to one interpretation (Plu. Sol. 24) prop. from one, who found out people, who against the prohibition exported figs from Attica, and denounced them. After Cook ClassRev. 1907, 133 ff. (agreeing Kretschmer Glotta 1, 386 w. lit.) the expression refers to an apotropäic gesture like Ital. <b class="b2">far le fiche</b>, Fr. <b class="b2">faire la figue à qn</b>. For the literal interpretation Gernet Mél. Boisacq 1, 393.