cynosure

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cynosure¹

  • /ˈsɪnəzjʊə/ UK
  • /-sjʊə/ UK
  • /-ʃʊə/ UK
  • /ˈsaɪnəʃʊɹ/ US
  • /ˈsɪn-/ US
  • /-ʃɚ/ US

Where it comes from

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”).

noun cynosures

  1. Alternative letter-case form of Cynosure: Ursa Minor or Polaris, the North Star, used as a guide by navigators.
  2. figuratively That which serves to guide or direct; a guiding star. let faith be your cynosure to walk by
  3. figuratively Something that is the center of attention; an object that serves as a focal point of attraction and admiration. Towers, and battlements it sees Bosom'd high in tufted trees, Where perhaps some beauty lies, The cynosure of neighbouring eyes.

Cynosure²

Where it comes from

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”).

proper noun Cynosura · cynosure

  1. Ursa Minor or Polaris, the North Star, used as a guide by navigators.

Translations

Every language

noun that which serves to guide or direct

Españoltramontana, guia, lazarillo
Françaistramontane, guide, mentor, chien d'aveugle, parangon
DeutschLeitstern
Italianotramontana, guida
Русскийпутево́дная звезда́ putevódnaja zvezdá

noun something that is the center of attention; an object that serves as a focal point of attraction and admiration

Españolblanco de las miradas, foco
Françaispoint de mire, cible, foyer
DeutschAnziehungspunkt, Blickfang, Fokus
Românățintă
Русскийцентр внима́ния centr vnimánija, средото́чие внима́ния sredotóčije vnimánija

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MLA

"cynosure." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/cynosure. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

cynosure. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/cynosure

Chicago

"cynosure." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/cynosure.

BibTeX
@misc{cynosure_2026,
  title = {cynosure},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/cynosure},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}