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cynic

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cynic

 

  4  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  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. 
  Hence  the  term  Cynic  symbolized,  in  the  popular  judgment, 
  moroseness,  and  contempt  for  the  views  of  others 
 
  2.  One  who  holds  views  resembling  those  of  the  Cynics;  a 
  snarler;  a  misanthrope;  particularly,  a  person  who 
  believes  that  human  conduct  is  directed,  either 
  consciously  or  unconsciously,  wholly  by  self-interest  or 
  self-indulgence,  and  that  appearances  to  the  contrary  are 
  superficial  and  untrustworthy. 
 
  He  could  obtain  from  one  morose  cynic,  whose  opinion 
  it  was  impossible  to  despise,  scarcely  any  not 
  acidulated  with  scorn.  --Macaulay. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  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  no  very  cynical  asperity  not  to  confess 
  obligations  where  no  benefit  has  been  received. 
  --Johnson. 
 
  2.  Pertaining  to  the  Dog  Star;  as  the  cynic,  or  Sothic, 
  year;  cynic  cycle. 
 
  3.  Belonging  to  the  sect  of  philosophers  called  cynics; 
  having  the  qualities  of  a  cynic;  pertaining  to  or 
  resembling,  the  doctrines  of  the  cynics. 
 
  4.  Given  to  sneering  at  rectitude  and  the  conduct  of  life  by 
  moral  principles;  disbelieving  in  the  reality  of  any  human 
  purposes  which  are  not  suggested  or  directed  by 
  self-interest  or  self-indulgence;  as  a  cynical  man  who 
  scoffs  at  pretensions  of  integrity;  characterized  by  such 
  opinions;  as  cynical  views  of  human  nature. 
 
  Note:  In  prose,  cynical  is  used  rather  than  cynic,  in  the 
  senses  1  and  4. 
 
  {Cynic  spasm}  (Med.),  a  convulsive  contraction  of  the  muscles 
  of  one  side  of  the  face,  producing  a  sort  of  grin, 
  suggesting  certain  movements  in  the  upper  lip  of  a  dog. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  cynic 
  n  :  someone  who  is  critical  of  the  motives  of  others  [syn:  {faultfinder}] 
 
  From  THE  DEVIL'S  DICTIONARY  ((C)1911  Released  April  15  1993)  [devils]: 
 
  CYNIC,  n.  A  blackguard  whose  faulty  vision  sees  things  as  they  are 
  not  as  they  ought  to  be  Hence  the  custom  among  the  Scythians  of 
  plucking  out  a  cynic's  eyes  to  improve  his  vision. 
 
 
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