Meaning of cynic in English

  1. Pronunciation

    /ˈsɪnɪk/

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  1. Noun

    cynic

    Etymology

    mid 16th century (in cynic (sense 2)): from Latin cynicus, from Greek kunikos; probably originally from Kunosarges, the name of a gymnasium where Antisthenes taught, but popularly taken to mean ‘doglike, churlish’, kuōn, kun-, ‘dog’ becoming a nickname for a Cynic

    Definitions

    1. someone who is critical of the motives of others
  2. 2. a member of a group of ancient Greek philosophers who advocated the doctrine that virtue is the only good and that the essence of virtue is self-control