Etymology

cynosure

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Today it means: That which serves to guide or direct; a guiding star. Full definition →

Middle French Cynosure ← Latin Cynosūra ← Ancient Greek Κυνόσουρα
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cynosure · noun1

  1. Ancient Greek · derived fromΚυνόσουρα“Ursa Minor”
  2. Latin · derived fromCynosūra“Ursa Minor”
  3. Middle French · borrowed fromCynosure“Ursa Minor; Polaris”
  4. English todaycynosure

From Middle French Cynosure (“Ursa Minor; Polaris”), from Latin Cynosūra (“Ursa Minor”), from Ancient Greek Κυνόσουρα (Kunósoura, “Ursa Minor”, literally “dog’s tail”), from κυνός (kunós, “dog's”) + οὐρά (ourá, “tail”).

Cynosure · proper noun2

  1. Ancient Greek · derived fromΚυνόσουρα“Ursa Minor”
  2. Latin · derived fromCynosūra“Ursa Minor”
  3. Middle French · borrowed fromCynosure“Ursa Minor; Polaris”
  4. English todayCynosure

From Middle French Cynosure (“Ursa Minor; Polaris”), from Latin Cynosūra (“Ursa Minor”), from Ancient Greek Κυνόσουρα (Kunósoura, “Ursa Minor”, literally “dog’s tail”), from κυνός (kunós, “dog's”) + οὐρά (ourá, “tail”).

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.