Cynosure Definition

sīnə-sho͝or, sĭnə-
noun
The constellation Ursa Minor, or the North Star which is in this constellation.
Webster's New World
Any person or thing that is a center of attention or interest.
Webster's New World
Something that serves to guide.
American Heritage

Other Word Forms of Cynosure

Noun

Singular:
cynosure
Plural:
cynosures

Origin of Cynosure

  • French Ursa Minor (which contains the guiding star Polaris) from Latin cynosūra from Greek kunosoura dog's tail, Ursa Minor kunos genitive of kuōn dog kwon- in Indo-European roots ourā tail ors- in Indo-European roots

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • From French cynosure (“Ursa Minor; Polaris”), from Latin Cynosūra (“Ursa Minor”), from Ancient Greek Κυνόσουρα (Kunosoura, “Ursa Minor”), literally “dog’s tail’, from κυνός (kunos, “dog's”) + οὐρά (oura, “tail”).

    From Wiktionary

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