cynicus

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈky.nɪ.kʊs]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈt͡ʃiː.ni.kus]^[1]

Forms

cynicus (feminine cynica, neuter cynicum); first/second-declension adjective^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Ancient Greek κυνικός (kunikós, “dog-like, Cynic”), from κύων (kúōn, “dog”).^[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Plautus speaks of the Cynic tribe, and Cicero uses the noun of the Cynic philosophers.^[4][5] Köbler dates Plautus about 250–184 BC.^[6]

Semantic evolution

As a noun it was a Cynic philosopher, in Cicero, Horace and Juvenal, who calls the tub of Diogenes the jars of the naked Cynics.^[5][4] As an adjective it meant of Cynic philosophy, as Tacitus' teacher of the Cynic school, and Petronius' Cynic dinner, a meagre meal.^[4][2] Varro's Menippean Satires were called saturae cynicae.^[2]

It also kept the literal sense “canine”: Celsus gives the Greek name of a facial spasm, Pliny uses spasticus cynicus of one who suffers from it, and Chalcidius has a dog year.^[2][7][4] Medieval Latin used it of a heretic or sinner and of a malicious slanderer, and also of a keeper of hounds.^[6][8] English cynic is recorded in the 1550s.^[9]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus mentions the Cynic tribe.^[4][6]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of the Cynic philosophers.^[5][6]
• 14–37 AD – Celsus names a facial spasm with it.^[7][6]
• 98–115 AD – Tacitus mentions a teacher of the Cynic school.^[4][6]
• 1550s – English cynic is recorded.^[9]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Of the Cynic philosophy.^[2][1]
2. Canine, spasticus cynicus, one with a facial spasm.^[2]
3. (Medieval Latin) Malicious, slanderous.^[8][10]

Noun

1. A Cynic philosopher.^[5][1]

Related words

• English cynic

References

1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ Saalfeld, Günther Alexander (1874), Index Graecorum vocabulorum in linguam latinam translatorum, Berlin: Weidmann
4. ^ a b c d e f Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
5. ^ a b c d Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ a b c d e f Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
7. ^ a b Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
8. ^ a b Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
9. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
10. ^ Mittellateinisches Wörterbuch bis zum ausgehenden 13. Jahrhundert (1967–), Munich: C. H. Beck; Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften