Toady is comparatively prostrate (7)
I believe the answer is:
flatter
I believe this is a double definition.
'toady' is the first definition.
(thesaurus)
'comparatively prostrate' is the second definition.
('flat' can be a synonym of 'prostrate')
'is' is the link.
(Other definitions for flatter that I've seen before include "flannel" , "drier" , "Become" , "Please with undue praise" , "sugar" .)