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cynosure

   Also found in: Wikipedia 0.16 sec.
cy·no·sure  (sn-shr, sn-)
n.
1. An object that serves as a focal point of attention and admiration.
2. Something that serves to guide.

[French, Ursa Minor (which contains the guiding star Polaris), from Latin cynosra, from Greek kunosoura, dog's tail, Ursa Minor : kunos, genitive of kun, dog; see kwon- in Indo-European roots + our, tail; see ors- in Indo-European roots.]

cyno·sural adj.

cynosure [sin-oh-zyure]
Noun
Literary a centre of interest or attention [Greek Kunosoura dog's tail (name of the constellation of Ursa Minor)]

cynosure
anything that guides or leads; hence, a center of attention.
See also: Guides and Guiding
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.cynosure - something that provides guidance (as Polaris guides mariners); "let faith be your cynosure to walk by"
counseling, counselling, guidance, counsel, direction - something that provides direction or advice as to a decision or course of action
2.cynosure - something that strongly attracts attention and admiration; "if he was the cynosure of all eyes he didn't notice"
center of attention, centre of attention, center, centre - the object upon which interest and attention focuses; "his stories made him the center of the party"

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? Mentioned in ? References in classic literature
 
The captain of the Cynosure had now finished his instructions.
Baron von Opperman was suddenly the cynosure of several pairs of eyes.
Then I thought of Eliza and Georgiana; I beheld one the cynosure of a ball-room, the other the inmate of a convent cell; and I dwelt on and analysed their separate peculiarities of person and character.
 
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