cynosure

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

[edit] English

[edit] Etymology

French cynosure "Ursa Minor; Polaris", from Latin Cynosūra "Ursa Minor", from Ancient Greek κυνόσουρα (cynosūra) "Ursa Minor", literally "dog's tail": κυνός (cynos) "dog's" + οὐρά (ūra) "tail".

[edit] Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈsaɪnəˌʃʊr/, SAMPA: /"saIn@%SUr/

  Hyphenation: cy‧no‧sure

  Rhymes: -aɪnəʃʊə

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[edit] Noun

cynosure (plural cynosures)

1. (literally) Cynosure — Ursa Minor, or Polaris the North Star, used as a guide
2. (figuratively) That which serves to guide or direct; something that is the center of attention; an object that serves as a focal point of attraction and admiration.

   • "The rooms were brilliant with lights and flowers, and gaiety and beauty, and intellect; and the lately shrinking country girl was the cynosure of all eyes---the most envied, the most dreaded, the most admired, the most loved." — Alice Cary (1820-1871), Clovernook, or Recollections of our Neighborhood in the West
   • "let faith be your cynosure to walk by"

[edit] Translations

[edit] See also

• Cynosure in the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica.