חָנַף, חָנֵף (b. h.) [to bend, decline from the right path,] to be insincere, to flatter; to show favor in court; to deceive. Der. Er. Zuta ch. II אֶחְנוֹף לזה וכ׳ I will flatter (lower myself before) this one that he may give me to eat &c.
Hif. - הֶחְנִיף same. Sot. 41ᵇ הִחְנִיפוּ לו וכ׳ thy flattered Agrippa (saying to him, ‘Thou art our brother’). Ib. מותר להַחְנִיף וכ׳ it is permissible to flatter (submit to the power of) the wicked &c. Y. Ber. VII, 11ᶜ. Pesik. R. s. 25 (ref. to Is. XXIV, 5) הבריות מַהֲנִיפִים זה לזה men deal insincerely with one another; והוא מַחֲנִיפוֹ וכ׳ and he puts him (the priest or Levite) off with deceptive intent, and says &c.; a. fr.