Cynosure — Cy no*sure (s? n? sh?r or s?n ? sh?r; 277), n. [L. Cynosura theconstellation Cynosure, Gr. ????? dog s tail, the constellation Cynosure; ????, ????, dog + o yra tail. See{Cynic}.] 1. The constellation of the Lesser Bear (Ursa Minor), to which, as … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
cynosure — ⇒CYNOSURE, subst. fém. Graminée des pays tempérés ,,caractérisée par une bractée foliacée à la base de chaque épillet (d apr. HOEFER 1850) dont les fleurs unilatérales sont disposées en épi, rappelant la forme d une queue de chien, et dont le… … Encyclopédie Universelle
cynosure — 1590s, from M.Fr. cynosure (16c.), from L. Cynosura, lit. dog s tail, the constellation (now Ursa Minor) containing the North Star, the focus of navigation, from Gk. kynosoura, lit. dog s tail, from kyon (gen. kynos; see CANINE (Cf. canine)) +… … Etymology dictionary
cynosure — meaning ‘a centre of attraction or admiration’, is pronounced sin ǝ syooǝ or siyn ǝ syooǝ. Its earlier meaning ‘guid ing star’ related to its use as the name of a constellation, and the current meaning is immortalized by Milton s phrase The… … Modern English usage
cynosure — index highlight, landmark (conspicuous object) Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 … Law dictionary
cynosure — CYNOSURE. sub. fém. Nom d une constellation. On l appelle encore la Petite Ourse … Dictionnaire de l'Académie Française 1798
cynosure — ► NOUN ▪ a person or thing that is the centre of attention or admiration. ORIGIN originally denoting the constellation Ursa Minor, or the pole star which it contains: from Greek kunosoura dog s tail (also Ursa Minor ) … English terms dictionary
cynosure — [sī′nə shoor΄, sin′əshoor΄] n. [L < Gr kynosoura, dog s tail, constellation of Ursa Minor < kyōn (see HOUND1) + oura, tail: see URO 2] 1. [C ] former name for the constellation Ursa Minor or the North Star which is in this constellation 2.… … English World dictionary
cynosure — noun /ˈsaɪnəˌʃʊr/ a) That which serves to guide or direct. let faith be your cynosure to walk by b) Something that is the center of attention; an object that serves as a focal point of attraction and admiration. The rooms were brilliant with… … Wiktionary
cynosure — noun Etymology: Middle French & Latin; Middle French, Ursa Minor, guide, from Latin cynosura Ursa Minor, from Greek kynosoura, from kynos oura, literally, dog s tail Date: 1565 1. capitalized the northern constellation Ursa Minor; also North Star … New Collegiate Dictionary
