Cynic

See also: cynic

English

Etymology

Originated around 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.

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.

Translations

member

• Arabic: كَلْبِيّ‎‎ m (kalbiyy)
• German: Kyniker (de) m, Kynikerin (de) f

• Greek: Κυνικός m (Kynikós)
• Latin: Cynicus m

Adjective

Cynic (not comparable)

1. Of or relating to the Cynics.

Translations

relating to the Cynics

• Arabic: كَلْبِيّ‎‎ (kalbiyy)
• German: kynisch
• Greek: κυνικός (el) m (kynikós)
• Ido: Ciniko

• Japanese: 犬儒 (kenju)
• Korean: 견유 (ko) (犬儒, gyeon-yu)
• Latin: Cynicus

References

• “Cynic” in The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 4th edition, Boston, Mass.: Houghton Mifflin, 2000, →ISBN.

Anagrams

• Cincy