Cynic

Meaning

Noun

A member of a sect of Ancient Greek philosophers who believed virtue to be the only good and self-control to be the only means of achieving virtue.

Adj

Of or relating to the Cynics.

Translations

Cynicus

Kyniker

Zynismus

Kynikerin

Cynic

Κυνικοί φιλόσοφοι

κυνικός

Κυνικός

cynisme

Cynic

Cynisme

cinico

Cynic

Cynisme

Cinisme

Etymology

First used in English around 1540–50. From Latin Cynicus (cynic philosopher), from Ancient Greek Κυνικός (Kunikós, from κύων (kúōn, “dog”, see Proto-Indo-European *ḱwṓ) + -ικός (-ikós), literally “doglike, currish”). The word may have first been applied to Cynics because of the nickname κύων (kúōn, “dog”) given to Diogenes of Sinope, the prototypical Cynic.