Word of the Day -- Sycophants

I'm in the middle of reading a very good novel, "A Conspiracy of Paper" by David Liss.   This engaging story is set in England in the 1700's and I'm enjoying the language and word choice that add to the authenticity of the historical setting.  
For instance, he referred to a minor character as a sycophant.  That's not a word I've heard often, but it describes a person who uses flattery to win favor from individuals wielding influence.   This type of character is not unique to the 1700's -- they are still around.  In fact,  Sophia is tries to  work with a sycophant in Book 3,  but more about that later.   

For more definitions of sycophant, click this link to the Free Dictionary