cynosure English · revision 2356

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈsɪnəzjʊə/ ''(UK)''; /ˈsaɪnəʃʊɹ/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|frm|cynosure|t=Ursa Minor; guide]],^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) [[der|la|Cynosūra|t=Ursa Minor]],^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) [[der|grc|κυνόσουρα|tr=kunósoura|t=dog's tail, Ursa Minor]],^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) from ''kunós'', the genitive of ''kúōn'' “dog”, and ''ourá'' “tail”.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(RHWU) The constellation was named for its tail, at the tip of which lies the Pole Star.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The constellation Ursa Minor, or the Pole Star itself (1596);^(OED 1989) also, figuratively, a guiding star (1596).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995) Merriam-Webster dates the word to 1565.^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Because sailors steered by the Pole Star, the constellation stood for guidance and direction.^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989) Since the star draws every navigator's eye, the word passed to anything that attracts attention by its brilliance or beauty (1599),^(OED 1989) which is its main modern sense, as in ''the cynosure of all eyes''.^(RHWU)^(AHD)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1565 – first date in Merriam-Webster.^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1596 – Ursa Minor; the Pole Star; a guiding star.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1599 – a centre of attraction or admiration.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Something that strongly attracts attention and admiration; a centre of attraction.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Something that serves as a guide.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(capitalized)'' The constellation Ursa Minor, or the North Star.^(MW Collegiate)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[cynosural]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[canine]]

+ * [[cynic]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}