Cynosure: meaning, definitions and examples
๐
cynosure
[ หsฤซ-nษ-หshuฬr ]
guiding light
Cynosure refers to something that strongly attracts attention by its brilliance, interest, or beauty. Originally, this term was used to describe the North Star, which served as a critical point of navigation in the night sky. Over time, it has evolved to denote any focal point or leading figure in a given context, such as in a group or an environment. It embodies the idea of being a prominent or guiding feature, often admired or looked up to.
Synonyms
attraction, centerpiece, focal point, guiding star.
Examples of usage
- The artist became the cynosure of all eyes during the gallery opening.
- In the midst of the chaos, she remained the cynosure of calm and reason.
- His innovative ideas made him the cynosure of the tech industry.
- The starlet was the cynosure of the film festival, drawing attention from fans and media alike.
Translations
Translations of the word "cynosure" in other languages:
๐ต๐น cynosure
๐ฎ๐ณ เคเฅเคเคฆเฅเคฐ เคฌเคฟเคเคฆเฅ
๐ฉ๐ช Ziel
- Mittelpunkt
- Anziehungspunkt
๐ฎ๐ฉ cynosure
๐บ๐ฆ ัะตะฝััะฐะปัะฝะฐ ััะณััะฐ
- ะพัััะฝัะธั
- ะพะฑ'ัะบั ัะฒะฐะณะธ
๐ต๐ฑ cynosure
- punkt odniesienia
- obiekt zainteresowania
๐ฏ๐ต ใทใในใผใซ
๐ซ๐ท cynosure
- centre d'intรฉrรชt
- point de mire
๐ช๐ธ cynosure
- centro de atenciรณn
- punto de referencia
๐น๐ท cynosure
- ilgi merkezi
- dikkat รงekici nokta
๐ฐ๐ท ์๋ ธ์์ด
๐ธ๐ฆ ู ุฏุงุฑ
๐จ๐ฟ cynosure
๐ธ๐ฐ cynosure
๐จ๐ณ ็ฆ็น
๐ธ๐ฎ cynosure
๐ฎ๐ธ cynosure
๐ฐ๐ฟ cynosure
๐ฌ๐ช cynosure
๐ฆ๐ฟ cynosure
๐ฒ๐ฝ cynosure
Etymology
The word 'cynosure' has its roots in the ancient Greek word 'kynosoura', which means 'dog's tail'. This refers to the constellation Ursa Minor, in which the North Star (Polaris) is located at the end of the 'tail' of the little bear. The term 'cynosure' was adopted into Latin as 'cynosura', preserving its astronomical sense of a guiding star. Over time, it transitioned into Middle English, where it was used metaphorically to indicate a person or thing that serves as a guiding light or point of focus. The idea of cynosure evolved from a literal navigational aid to a metaphorical emblem of prominence and admiration in various fields, including fashion, art, and leadership.
Word Frequency Rank
Ranking #35,849, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.
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- 35846 reunified
- 35847 paragraphing
- 35848 reconvening
- 35849 cynosure
- 35850 aurally
- 35851 bludgeoned
- 35852 pinged
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