cynosure


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cy·no·sure

(sī′nə-sho͝or′, sĭn′ə-)
n.
1. An object that serves as a focal point of attention and admiration.
2. Something that serves to guide.
[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; see kwon- in Indo-European roots + ourā, tail; see ors- in Indo-European roots.]
cy′no·sur′al adj.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

cynosure

(ˈsɪnəˌzjʊə; -ʃʊə)
n
1. a person or thing that attracts notice, esp because of its brilliance or beauty
2. something that serves as a guide
[C16: from Latin Cynosūra the constellation of Ursa Minor, from Greek Kunosoura, from cyno- + oura tail]
ˌcynoˈsural adj
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

cy•no•sure

(ˈsaɪ nəˌʃʊər, ˈsɪn ə-)

n.
1. someone or something that strongly attracts attention, interest, or admiration: the cynosure of all eyes.
2. something serving for guidance or direction.
[1590–1600; < Latin Cynosūra < Greek Kynósoura the constellation Ursa Minor =kynós dog's (genitive of kýōn) + ourá tail]
cy`no•sur′al, adj.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

cynosure

anything that guides or leads; hence, a center of attention.
See also: Guides and Guiding
-Ologies & -Isms. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun 1. cynosure - something that provides guidance (as Polaris guides mariners); "let faith be your cynosure to walk by"
counseling, counselling, guidance, counsel, direction - something that provides direction or advice as to a decision or course of action
2. cynosure - something that strongly attracts attention and admiration; "if he was the cynosure of all eyes he didn't notice"
center of attention, centre of attention, center, centre - the object upon which interest and attention focuses; "his stories made him the center of the party"
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
Translations

cynosure

[ˈsaɪnəʃʊəʳ] N cynosure of every eye → blanco m de todas las miradas
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

cynosure

n to be the cynosure of all eyes (liter) → alle Blicke auf sich ziehen or vereinigen
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
References in classic literature ?
And while he discussed within his own mind what sort of shape or similitude it were well to bestow upon this excellent piece of timber, there came into Drowne's workshop a certain Captain Hunnewell, owner and commander of the good brig called the Cynosure, which had just returned from her first voyage to Fayal.
"I bespeak this very piece of oak for the figure-head of the Cynosure. She has shown herself the sweetest craft that ever floated, and I mean to decorate her prow with the handsomest image that the skill of man can cut out of timber.
The captain of the Cynosure had now finished his instructions.
"Not paint her!" exclaimed Captain Hunnewell, who stood by; "not paint the figure-head of the Cynosure! And what sort of a figure should I cut in a foreign port with such an unpainted oaken stick as this over my prow!
One fine morning, just before the departure of the Cynosure on her second voyage to Fayal, the commander of that gallant vessel was seen to issue from his residence in Hanover Street.
But therein, as I found, dwelt now John Field, an Irishman, and his wife, and several children, from the broad-faced boy who assisted his father at his work, and now came running by his side from the bog to escape the rain, to the wrinkled, sibyl-like, cone-headed infant that sat upon its father's knee as in the palaces of nobles, and looked out from its home in the midst of wet and hunger inquisitively upon the stranger, with the privilege of infancy, not knowing but it was the last of a noble line, and the hope and cynosure of the world, instead of John Field's poor starveling brat.
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Baron von Opperman was suddenly the cynosure of several pairs of eyes.
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Then I thought of Eliza and Georgiana; I beheld one the cynosure of a ball-room, the other the inmate of a convent cell; and I dwelt on and analysed their separate peculiarities of person and character.
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But far from any such ray of consolation visiting the lost, he stood bare of help and helpers, his portmanteau sequestered in one place, his money deserted in another and guarded by a corpse; himself, so sedulous of privacy, the cynosure of all men's eyes about the station; and, as if these were not enough mischances, he was now fallen in ill-blood with the beast to whom his poverty had linked him!
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Fair be the fortunes of such a master and such a servant, the one the cynosure of knight-errantry, the other the star of squirely fidelity!
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The Scotland Yard men were the cynosure of all eyes.
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the imperial box, and was the cynosure of all eyes.
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