Etymologically
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cynicus

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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]

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