cynic

cynic
cyn•ic
[[t]ˈsɪn ɪk[/t]] n.
1) a person who believes that only selfishness motivates human actions and who disbelieves in or minimizes selfless acts or disinterested points of view
2) pho (cap.) one of a sect of Greek philosophers, 4th century b.c., who advocated the doctrines that virtue is the only good, that the essence of virtue is self-control, and that surrender to any external influence is beneath human dignity
3) a person with a bitterly or sneeringly cynical attitude
4) cynical
5) pho (cap.) of or pertaining to the Cynics or their doctrines
Etymology: 1540–50; < L Cynicus < Gk Kynikós Cynic, lit., doglike =kyn-, s. of kýōn dog

From formal English to slang. 2014.

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  • 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 — 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.… …   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

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