Quick Definition
συκοφαντέω v. I accuse falsely, defraud
Strong's Definition
from a compound of 4810 and a derivative of 5316; to be a fig-informer (reporter of the law forbidding the exportation of figs from Greece), "sycophant", i.e. (genitive and by extension) to defraud (exact unlawfully, extort)
KJV Usage: accuse falsely, take by false accusation
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
verb | σῦκον + φαίνω
33.434 · Communication · Accuse, Blame
to make false charges to bring false charges against someone, especially with the intent of personal profit The term συκοφαντέω refers to a practice in which persons could bring charges against an individual and receive a part of the fine or indemnity paid to the court.
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
συκοφαντέω, -@; 1 aor. ἐσυκοφάντησα; (fr. συκοφάντης, and this fr. σῦκον ‘fig’, and φαίνω ‘to show’. At Athens those were called συκοφάνται whose business it was to inform against any one whom they might detect exporting figs out of Attica; and as sometimes they seem to have extorted money from those loath to be exposed, the name συκοφάντης from the time of Aristophanes down was a general term of opprobrium to designate a malignant informer, a calumniator; a malignant and base accuser from love of gain, [but ef. L. and S.s. v.]; hence the verb συκοφαντῶ signifies) 1. to accuse wrongfully, to calumniate, to attack by malicious devices, (Arstph., Xen., Plat., al.). 2. to exact money wrongfully; to extort from, defraud: Lk. iii. 14 [here R. V. marg. accuse wrongfully]; with a gen. of the pers. and ace. of the thing, Lk. xix. 8 (τριάκοντα μνᾶς mapa τινος, Lys. p. 177, 32. Sept. for pws, to oppress, defraud, Job xxxv. 9; Eccl. iv. 1; Ps. exviii. (exix.) 122; πένητα, Prov. xiv. 31; xxii. 16; πτωχούς, Prov. xxviii. 3).
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
συκοφαντέω sykophanteō 2x
to inform against; to accuse falsely; by impl. to wrong by false accusations; to extort money by false informations, Lk. 3:14; 19:8*
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
συκοφαντέω, -ῶ
(< σῦκον, φαίνω), [in LXX: Ge 43:18 (גּלל hithpo.), Le 19:11 (שׁקר pi.), Jb 35:9, Ps 118 (119):122, Pr 14:31 22:16 28:3, Ec 4:1 (עשׁק) *;]
to act the συκοφάντης (on conjectures as to the origin of the term, v. LS, s.v.), to accuse falsely (Aristoph., Xen., al.): Lk 3:14 (R, mg.) 19:8 (RV, exact wrongfully; but cf. Hatch, Essays, 89 ff., v. also Field, Notes, 56 f.; MM, xxiv).†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
συκοφαντέω. This verb, which is fairly common in the LXX, but in the NT occurs only in Lk 313, 19%, is used in P Par 611° (B.C. 156), where an official warns a subordinate against certain persons who were making unfair claims—évlwv δὲ Kal συκοφαντεῖσθαι mpodepopéevwy—as being contrary to the humane rule of the Ptolemies (4! ὅτι (ταῦτα) πάντα ἐστὶν ἀλλότρια τῆς τε ἡμῶν ἀγωγῆς) : cf. 26. 15 μ]άλιστα δὲ τῶν συκοφαντεῖν ἐπιχειρούντων [τελωνῶν. The sense of “accuse falsely” rather than ‘‘ exact wrongly’ which Field (Wotes, p. 56f.) prefers in the two NT passages (cf. W. M. Ramsay in Hastings’ DB V. p. 396 note) comes out still more strongly in P Tebt I. 43*° (B.c. 118) συκοφαντηθῶμεν, (ΒΘ): οἱ Σὸν 86 συκοφαντίας τε καὶ διασισμοῦ χάριν, ““οΥ the sake of calumny or extortion” (Edd.), also P Oxy III. 47238 (c. A.D. 130) οὐ yap... τοῦτο αὐτοῖς els συκοφαντίαν εὕρημα, ‘this does not afford them an excuse for calumnies” ““be subject to false accusations” —= $= avAA— (Edd.), and OG/S 3831? (mid. i/B.c.) ὅπως ἕκαστος... ἀσυκοφάντητον ἔχῃ τὴν ἑορτὴν εὐωχούμενος, i.e. enjoy the feast undisturbed by the calumnies of men. The same sense appears in P Flor III. 382°? (a.p. 222-3) ὑπὸ τοῦ πραγματικοῦ σε[["]]συκοφαντη[μ]ένος as would appear from ὅπερ pov κα[τε]ψεύδετο in the next line. Other exx. of the verb are P Cairo Zen II. 592124 (B.c. 254) ὅπως... [ὑπὸ μ]ηθενὸς συκοφαντηθῶσι, Chrest. 1. 2385 (c. A.D. 117) where the strategus writes warning his subordinate to see to it that the measuring of the seed should be so conducted that the native population shall not suffer, ὅπως μὴ βαρηθῶσιν ἢ παραπραχθῶσιν οἱ ἐνχώριοι ὁμολό[γη]μα τοῖς συκοφαντουμένοις is followed by ἃ reference to ὃ ψευδομαρτυρίαν. The subst. occurs in P Flor I. 6® (A.D. 210) in connexion with fiscal matters, τὸ τακτὸν els τὸ πρόστειμον τῆς συκοφαντίας : see the editor's note. On the origin of the term συκοφάντης, see A. B. Cook’s art. in CR xxi. (1907) p. 133 ff., in which he shows that the word means originally ‘fone who shows the fig,” 1.6. “one who makes with his hand the sign known as ‘the fig,’” a prophylactic gesture implying ‘‘ misrepresent in an outrageous fashion.
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
συκοφαντέω (sukophanteō) — to extort. σῡκοφαντ-έω, to be a συκοφάντης 1, παππῷος ὁ βίος συκοφαντεῖν ἐστί μοι [Refs 5th c.BC+]: with accusative person, prosecute vexatiously, blackmail, συκοφαντεῖς τοὺς ξένου; [Refs 5th c.BC+]; συκοφαντοῦμαι νῦν ὑπ᾽ αὐτῶν ἀδίκως [Refs 5th c.BC+]; frequently of blackmail by officials, [Refs 2nd c.BC+]; συκοφαντῆσαι ἡμᾶς καὶ διασεῖσαι [Refs 1st c.BC+]; μηδένα διασείσητε μηδὲ συκοφαντήσητε [NT+2nd c.AD+]; τοῦ συκοφαντῆσαι ἡμᾶς to seek occasion against us, oppress us, [LXX]; ὁ συκοφαντῶν πένητα[LXX]; accuse falsely, ταυτὶ γὰρ συκοφαντεῖσθαι τὸν Ἕκτορα ὑπὸ τοῦ Ὁμήρου that is a false charge brought against Hector by Homer, [Refs 1st c.AD+]: with accusative of things, denounce as contraband, Μεγαρέων τὰ χλανίσκια [Refs 5th c.BC+]; extort by false charges or threats, τριάκοντα μνᾶς [NT+5th c.BC+]
2. criticize in a pettifogging way, τοὺς ποιητάς [Refs 4th c.BC+]; lay verbal traps for one, τὸν ῥήτορα βουλόμενος δικαίως ἐξετάζειν καὶ μὴ σ. [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ὑποσκελίζειν καὶ σ. [Refs 4th c.BC+]: with accusative of things, quibble about, μὴ τὰ συμβάντα συκοφάντει [Refs]; σ. τὸ πρᾶγμα [Refs 1st c.BC+]; carp at, stint, τὸν ἐπὶ τοῖς καλλίστοις ἔργοις ἔπαινον [Refs 1st c.BC+]: absolutely, quibble, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
II. ={κνίζω ἐρωτικῶς}, [Refs 5th c.BC+]