Where does “Cynical” come from?
Cynical (English) comes from English Cynic, from Middle English cynike, from French cynique, from Latin Cynicus, from Ancient Greek Κυνικός, from Ancient Greek -ικός, from Ancient Greek -κός, from Proto-Indo-European -ḱos — -y, -ic.
Cynical (English): Of or relating to the Cynics, a sect of Ancient...
Definitions
- Of or relating to the Cynics, a sect of Ancient...
Ancestry of “Cynical”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | Cynic | A member of a sect of Ancient Greek philosophers... |
| 2 | Middle English | cynike | — |
| 3 | French | cynique | cynical; canine; cynic |
| 4 | Latin | Cynicus | Cynic |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | Κυνικός | a Cynic |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | -ικός | of or pertaining to, in the manner of; -ic |
| 7 | Ancient Greek | -κός | forms adjectives with the sense of 'of or... |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | -ḱos | -y, -ic |