A.to be a “συκοφάντης” 1, “παππῷος ὁ βίος συκοφαντεῖν ἐστί μοι” Ar.Av.1452, cf. Ach.828, Ec.562, al., Lys.22.1, Isoc.15.23, 21.5, al., D.53.1, 55.1, al., Men.Epit.1, al.; “ς κατ᾽ ἀγοράν” Diph.32.16: c. acc. pers., prosecute vexatiously, blackmail, συκοφαντεῖς τοὺς ξένους; Ar. Av.1431, cf. V.1096 (lyr.); “τοὺς συμμάχους” Isoc.15.318; “ἑτέρους ἔσειε καὶ ἐσυκοφάντει” Antipho 6.43; “ς. τοὺς τὰς οὐσίας ἔχοντας” Arist.Pol. 1304b22, cf. Lys.19.9 (Pass.); “συκοφαντοῦμαι νῦν ὑπ᾽ αὐτῶν ἀδίκως” Id.Fr.43, cf.X.Oec.11.21, Thphr.Char.23.4; “ἰδόντες . . σε ὑπὸ Δημέου συκοφαντούμενον” PMich.Zen.57.2 (iii B.C.), cf. PCair.Zen.212.4, 628.3 (iii B.C.), CPR232.3 (ii/iii A.D.); freq. of blackmail by officials, PTeb. 43.26, 789.21 (ii B.C.), UPZ112i4, 113.10,16 (ii B.C.); “συκοφαντῆσαι ἡμᾶς καὶ διασεῖσαι” BGU1756.11 (i B.C.); “μηδένα διασείσητε μηδὲ συκοφαντήσητε” Ev.Luc.3.14, cf. CPR238.6 (ii A.D.), PFlor.382.57 (iii A.D.); τοῦ συκοφαντῆσαι ἡμᾶς to seek occasion against us, oppress us, LXX Ge.43.18; ὁ συκοφαντῶν πένητα ib.Pr.14.31; accuse falsely, ταυτὶ γὰρ συκοφαντεῖσθαι τὸν Ἕκτορα ὑπὸ τοῦ Ὁμήρου that is a false charge brought against Hector by Homer, Philostr.Her.12b; “κύριε Γάϊε, συκοφαντούμεθα” Ph.2.598, cf. 1.145, D.C.38.28, al.: c. acc. et gen., “τὸν θεὸν ὀλιγωρίας” Ael.Fr.40: c. acc. rei, denounce as contraband, “Μεγαρέων τὰ χλανίσκια” Ar.Ach.519; extort by false charges or threats, “τριάκοντα μνᾶς” Lys.26.24; “εἴ τινός τι ἐσυκοφάντησα, ἀποδίδωμι τετραπλοῦν” Ev.Luc.19.8: abs., Isoc.18.10.
2. criticize in a pettifogging way, “τοὺς ποιητάς” Arist.Po.1456a5, cf. D.H.Th.52, Dem.34, D.S.26.1; lay verbal traps for one, τὸν ῥήτορα βουλόμενος δικαίως ἐξετάζειν καὶ μὴ ς. D.18.232; “ς. Θρασύμαχον” Pl.R.341c; ὑποσκελίζειν καὶ ς. D.18.138: c. acc. rei, quibble about, μὴ τὰ συμβάντα συκοφάντει ib.192; “ς. τὸ πρᾶγμα” Id.23.61, D.H.Dem.25; carp at, stint, “τὸν ἐπὶ τοῖς καλλίστοις ἔργοις ἔπαινον” D.S.4.8: abs., quibble, Pl.R.341b, Arist.Top.139b26, 157a32, D.20.62.
