Word
Of
The
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cynosure
cynosure \SYE-nuh-shur\
noun
A cynosure is a person or thing that attracts a lot of attention or interest. As a proper noun,
Cynosure may refer to the North Star or its constellation
Ursa Minor.
// He was the
cynosure of all eyes as he walked into the room.
See the entry >
Examples:
"Look at any picture of
Kashmir and you'll understand why it is called heaven on earth. And
Srinagar, framed by the majestic Zabarwan Mountains, is the
cynosure of all travel itineraries, offering a mix of breathtaking landscapes, rich culture, and spirituality." — Mallika Bhagat,
Times Now (Mumbai, India), 17 Dec. 2024
Did you know?
Ancient mariners noted that all the stars in the heavens seemed to revolve around a particular star, and they relied on that star to guide their navigation. The constellation that this bright star appears in is known to English speakers today as Ursa Minor, or the Little Dipper, but the Ancient Greeks called it Kynósoura, a term that comes from a phrase meaning "dog's tail."
Kynósoura passed into Latin and Middle French, becoming
cynosure. When English speakers adopted the term in the 16th century, they used it as a name for both the constellation and the star (which is also known as the North Star or Polaris) and also to identify a guide of any kind. By the 17th century,
cynosure was also being used figuratively for anything or anyone that, like the North Star, is the focus of attention or observation.