Cynic

Meanings

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.

Adjective

• Of or relating to the Cynics.

Origin

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