Cynic
- Cynic Cyn"ic, 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]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
Look at other dictionaries:
Cynic — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda Cynic Información personal Origen Miami, Florida, EE. UU … Wikipedia Español
Cynic — Шон Рейнерт и Пол Масвидал … Википедия
Cynic — Pays d’origine États Unis Genre musical Dea … Wikipédia en Français
Cynic — Cyn ic (s[i^]n [i^]k), Cynical Cyn ic*al ( [i^]*kal), 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 … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
cynic — ► NOUN 1) a person who has little faith in the integrity or sincerity of others. 2) a sceptic. 3) (Cynic) (in ancient Greece) a member of a school of philosophers founded by Antisthenes, characterized by an ostentatious contempt for wealth and… … English terms dictionary
Cynic — Allgemeine Informationen … Deutsch Wikipedia
cynic — mid 16c., in reference to the ancient philosophy, from Gk. kynikos a follower of Antisthenes, lit. dog like, from kyon (gen. kynos) dog (see CANINE (Cf. canine)). Supposedly from the sneering sarcasm of the philosophers, but more likely from… … Etymology dictionary
cynic — cynic, cynical Cynical is the adjective form used in the meaning ‘doubting human sincerity or integrity’ and has developed a further meaning ‘disregarding normal rules or standards’, as in a cynical foul, a cynical tackle, etc. Cynic is used with … Modern English usage
cynic — [n] nonbeliever carper, caviler, detractor, disbeliever, doubter, doubting Thomas*, egoist, egotist, flouter, misanthrope, misanthropist, misogamist, misogynist, mocker, pessimist, questioner, satirist, scoffer, skeptic, sneerer, unbeliever;… … New thesaurus
cynic — [sin′ik] n. [L Cynicus < Gr kynikos, lit., doglike, as if < kyōn, dog (see HOUND1), nickname of Diogenes, but prob. in allusion to the Kynosarges, a gymnasium where the Cynics taught (< kyōn + argos, lit., white dog, so named after an… … English World dictionary
