Where does “Cynicism” come from?
Cynicism derives from English Cynic combined with Ancient Greek -ισμός, itself from Ancient Greek Κυνικός formed with the suffix -ικός, ultimately tracing to Ancient Greek κύω and Proto-Indo-European -kos.
Cynicism (English): the philosophy of the Greek Cynics
Definitions
- the philosophy of the Greek Cynics
Ancestry of “Cynicism”, 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 |