%cyn%

n. [ From Apocynum, the generic name of dogbane. ] (Chem.) A bitter principle obtained from the dogbane (Apocynum cannabinum). [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. colocynthis, Gr. &unr_;. Cf. Coloquintida. ] (Med.) The light spongy pulp of the fruit of the bitter cucumber (Citrullus colocynthis, or Cucumis colocynthis), an Asiatic plant allied to the watermelon; coloquintida. It comes in white balls, is intensely bitter, and a powerful cathartic. Called also bitter apple, bitter cucumber, bitter gourd. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. colocynthine. ] (Chem.) The active medicinal principle of colocynth; a bitter, yellow, crystalline substance, regarded as a glucoside. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ L., fr. Gr. &unr_;&unr_;&unr_;&unr_;&unr_; a dog's collar, a bad kind of sore throat. Cf. Quinsy. ] (Med.) Any disease of the tonsils, throat, or windpipe, attended with inflammation, swelling, and difficulty of breathing and swallowing. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. &unr_;&unr_;&unr_;&unr_;&unr_; of a dog-man; &unr_;&unr_;&unr_;&unr_;, &unr_;&unr_;&unr_;, dog + &unr_;&unr_;&unr_;&unr_;&unr_; man: cf. F. cynanthropie. ] (Med.) A kind of madness in which men fancy themselves changed into dogs, and imitate the voice and habits of that animal. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. &unr_;&unr_;&unr_;&unr_;, &unr_;&unr_;&unr_;&unr_;, dog + &unr_;&unr_;&unr_; bear + &unr_;&unr_;&unr_; fight. ] Bear baiting with a dog. Hudibras. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ NL., from Gr. &unr_;&unr_;&unr_;&unr_;&unr_; dog-rose; &unr_;&unr_;&unr_;&unr_;, &unr_;&unr_;&unr_;, dog + &unr_;&unr_;&unr_; rose. ] (Bot.) A fruit like that of the rose, consisting of a cup formed of the calyx tube and receptacle, and containing achenes. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. kynhgetikh` (sc. te`chnh art), fr. kynhge`ths hunter; ky`wn, kyno`s, dog + &unr_;&unr_;&unr_; to lead. ] The art of hunting with dogs. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Gr. Philos) 1. One of a sect or school of philosophers founded by Antisthenes, and of whom Diogenes was a disciple. The first Cynics were noted for austere lives and their scorn for social customs and current philosophical opinions. Hence the term Cynic symbolized, in the popular judgment, moroseness, and contempt for the views of others. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. One who holds views resembling those of the Cynics; a snarler; a misanthrope; particularly, a person who believes that human conduct is directed, either consciously or unconsciously, wholly by self-interest or self-indulgence, and that appearances to the contrary are superficial and untrustworthy. [ 1913 Webster ]

He could obtain from one morose cynic, whose opinion it was impossible to despise, scarcely any not acidulated with scorn. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. [ L. cynicus of the sect of Cynics, fr. Gr. kyniko`s, prop., dog-like, fr. ky`wn, kyno`s, dog. See Hound. ] 1. Having the qualities of a surly dog; snarling; captious; currish.

I hope it is no very cynical asperity not to confess obligations where no benefit has been received. Johnson. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Pertaining to the Dog Star; as, the cynic, or Sothic, year; cynic cycle. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Belonging to the sect of philosophers called cynics; having the qualities of a cynic; pertaining to, or resembling, the doctrines of the cynics. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Given to sneering at rectitude and the conduct of life by moral principles; believing the worst of human nature and motives; disbelieving in the reality of any human purposes which are not suggested or directed by self-interest or self-indulgence; having a sneering disbelief in the selflessness of others; as, a cynical man who scoffs at pretensions of integrity; characterized by such opinions; as, cynical views of human nature.
Syn. -- misanthropic, misanthropical. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ In prose, cynical is used rather than cynic, in the senses 1 and 4. [ 1913 Webster ]

Cynic spasm (Med.), a convulsive contraction of the muscles of one side of the face, producing a sort of grin, suggesting certain movements in the upper lip of a dog. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a cynical manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality of being cynical. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The doctrine of the Cynics; the quality of being cynical; the mental state, opinions, or conduct, of a cynic; morose and contemptuous views and opinions. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. the type genus of the family Cynocephalidae.
Syn. -- genus Cynocephalus. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. a genus of creeping perennial grasses of tropical and southern Africa.
Syn. -- genus Cynodon. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. any member of the Cynodontia, a group of small carnivorous reptiles. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. a division of Triassic Therapsida comprising small carnivorous reptiles often with mammallike teeth.
Syn. -- division Cynodontia. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. a natural family of fish including the tonguefishes.
Syn. -- family Cynoglossidae. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

‖n. pl. [ NL., fr. Gr. &unr_;&unr_;&unr_;, &unr_;&unr_;&unr_;, a dog + -oid. ] (Zool.) A division of Carnivora, including the dogs, wolves, and foxes. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. a genus of mammals comprising the prairie dogs.
Syn. -- genus Cynomys. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

‖n. [ NL., fr. Gr. &unr_;&unr_;&unr_;&unr_;, &unr_;&unr_;&unr_;, dog + &unr_;&unr_;&unr_;&unr_;&unr_; appetite. ] (Med.) A voracious appetite, like that of a starved dog. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. the battle that ended the second Macedonian War (197 BC); the Romans defeated King Philip of Macedon.
Syn. -- battle of Cynoscephalae. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. a genus of sea trout.
Syn. -- genus Cynoscion. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. Of or pertaining to a cynosure. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. Cynosura theconstellation Cynosure, Gr. &unr_;&unr_;&unr_;&unr_;&unr_; dog's tail, the constellation Cynosure; &unr_;&unr_;&unr_;&unr_;, &unr_;&unr_;&unr_;&unr_;, dog + o'yra` tail. SeeCynic. ] 1. The constellation of the Lesser Bear (Ursa Minor), to which, as containing the polar star, the eyes of mariners and travelers were often directed. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which serves to direct. Southey. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Anything to which attention is strongly turned; a center of attraction. [ 1913 Webster ]

Where perhaps some beauty lies,
The cynosure of neighboring eyes. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Classical mythology) the virgin goddess of the hunt and the moon; daughter of Leto and twin sister of Apollo; identified with Roman Diana.
Syn. -- Artemis. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ Gr. di- = di`s- twice + &unr_; dog + 'odoy`s, 'odo`ntos, tooth. ] (Paleon.) One of a group of extinct reptiles having the jaws armed with a horny beak, as in turtles, and in the genus Dicynodon, supporting also a pair of powerful tusks. Their remains are found in triassic strata of South Africa and India. [ 1913 Webster ]