Sunday Rest: cynosure.

 A cynosure (you say it SInohSHOR) is something that people notice because it's so brilliantly wonderful or lovely. It's the kind of thing that's so marvellous that people want to copy it.

All the same, a word that sounds more lacking in brilliance and natural enthusiasm I have yet to see. It sounds like a criticism, like something cynical.

And, actually, that's no coincidence.

Sunday Rest: cynosure. The cyno- bit is from the Greek kude, which means dog. Kunosoura means dog's tail, and is to do with the constellation Ursa Minor. 

image by Keesscherer

I suppose the constellation is quite dazzling, if you like that kind of thing. 

And it's the middle of the night. 

And not cloudy.

The word cynic is from kude, too. 

I can only suppose that dogs in Ancient Greece must have been quite grumpy.