Cynic

See also cynic

English

Etymology

Originated 1540–50 from Latin Cynicus (cynic philosopher), from Ancient Greek Κυνικός (Kynikós) (literally doglike, currish), from κύων (dog) + -ικός; see Proto-Indo-European *kwon-.

The word may have first been applied to Cynics because of the nickname κύων kuōn (dog) given to Diogenes of Sinope, the prototypical Cynic.

Proper noun

Cynic (plural Cynics)

1. A member of a sect of ancient Greek philosophers who believed virtue to be the only good and self-control to be the only means of achieving virtue.

Adjective

Cynic (not comparable)

1. Of or relating to the Cynics.

Translations

relating to the Cynics

Greek: Κυνικός (el) (Kynikós) m. Ido: Ciniko

Japanese: 犬儒 (kenju) Korean: 견유 (犬儒, gyeon-yu)

References

• “Cynic” in The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition, Houghton Mifflin Company, 2000.

Anagrams

• Cincy