Cynosure
WordNet
noun
(1) Something that strongly attracts attention and admiration
"If he was the cynosure of all eyes he didn't notice"
(2) Something that provides guidance (as Polaris guides mariners)
"Let faith be your cynosure to walk by"
WiktionaryText
Etymology
French cynosure "Ursa Minor; Polaris", from Latin Cynosūra "Ursa Minor", from Ancient Greek κυνόσουρα (cynosūra) "Ursa Minor", literally "dog's tail": κυνός (cynos) "dog's" + οὐρά (ūra) "tail".
Noun
- Cynosure — Ursa Minor, or Polaris the North Star, used as a guide
- That which serves to guide or direct; something that is the center of attention; an object that serves as a focal point of attraction and admiration.
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- "The rooms were brilliant with lights and flowers, and gaiety and beauty, and intellect; and the lately shrinking country girl was the cynosure of all eyes---the most envied, the most dreaded, the most admired, the most loved." — Alice Cary (1820-1871), Clovernook, or Recollections of our Neighborhood in the West
- "let faith be your cynosure to walk by"
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