Emily Dickinson Lexicon

CY-NE-GET'ICS, n.

The art of hunting with dogs.

CYN'IC, a.

Pertaining to the dog-star. The year determined by the heliacal rising of the dog-star (365 days 6 hours) was called the Sothic, Cynic, or Canicular year; that of 365 days, (the civil year,) was called the vague year, from its continually changing in relation to the seasons: the period from one coincidence of the Sothic and civil years to another, (1460 Sothic and 1461 civil years,) was called the Sothic period and the cynic cycle.

CYN'IC, or CYN'IC-AL, a. [Gr. κυνικος, canine, from κυων, a dog.]

Having the qualities of a surly dog; snarling; captious; surly; currish; austere. Cynic spasm, a kind of convulsion, in which the patient imitates the howling of dogs. – Encyc.

CYN'IC, n.

A man of a canine temper; a surly or snarling man or philosopher; a follower of Diogenes; a misanthrope. – Shak.

CYN'IC-AL-LY, adv.

In a snarling, captious or morose manner. – Bacon.

CYN'IC-AL-NESS, n.

Moroseness; contempt of riches and amusements.

CYN'I-CISM, n.

The practice of a cynic; a morose contempt of the pleasures and arts of life. – Prof. Emerson.

CYN'ICS, n.

In ancient history, a sect of philosophers, who valued themselves on their contempt of riches, of arts, sciences and amusements. They are said to owe their origin to Antisthenes of Athens. – Encyc.

CYN'O-SURE, n. [Gr. κυνοσουρα, the tail of the dog, ursa minor, the little bear.]

The constellation near the north pole, consisting of seven stars, four of which are disposed like the four wheels of a chariot, and three lengthwise, like the beam; hence called the chariot or Charles's wain. As seamen are accustomed to steer by this constellation, it is sometimes taken for that which directs or attracts attention. – Encyc. Milton.

CY'ON, n.

See CION.

CY'PHER, n. [or v. See CIPHER.]

CY'PHON-ISM, n. [Gr. κυφον.]

A species of punishment frequently used by the ancients, consisting in the besmearing of the criminal with honey, and exposing him to insects.

CY'PRESS, n. [L. cupressus; Gr. κυπαρισσος.]

1. The popular name of a genus of plants or trees. The most remarkable are the sempervirens or common cypress, the evergreen American cypress or white cedar, and the disticha or deciduous American cypress. The wood of these trees is remarkable for its durability. The coffins in which the Athenian heroes and the mummies of Egypt were deposited, are said to have been made of the first species. – Encyc.
2. The emblem of mourning for the dead, cypress branches having been anciently used at funerals. Had success attended the Americans, the death of Warren would have been sufficient to damp the joys of victory, and the cypress would have been united with the laurel. – Eliot's Biog.

CYP'RI-AN, a.

1. Belonging to the island of Cyprus.
2. A term applied to a lewd woman.

CYP'RIN, a.

Pertaining to the fish of the genus Cyprinus.

CYP'RI-OT, a.

An inhabitant of Cyprus.

CY'PRIS, n. [plur. Cyprides.]

A species of fresh-water crustacea, which swim by means of cilia; they swam in stagnant water. – Mantell.

CY'PRUS, n.

A thin transparent black stuff. – Shak.

CY-RE-NA'IC, a.

Pertaining to Cyrene.

CYR-I-O-LOG'IC, a. [Gr. κυριος, chief, and λογος, discourse.]

Relating or pertaining to capital letters. – Encyc.

CYST, or CYS'TIS, n. [Gr. κυστις, a bladder.]

A bag or tunic which includes morbid matter in animal bodies. – Encyc.

CYST'IC, a.

Pertaining to a cyst, or contained in a cyst. The cystic duct is the membranous canal that conveys the bile from the hepatic duct into the gall-bladder. The cystic artery is a branch of the hepatic. – Hooper. Cystic oxyd, a name given to a peculiar substance, supposed to be generated in the bladder or rather in the kidneys. – Ure.

CYS'TO-CELE, n. [Gr. κυστις, a bladder, and κηλη, a tumor.]

A hernia or rupture formed by the protrusion of the urinary bladder. – Hooper.

CYS-TOT'O-MY, n. [Gr. κυστις, a bladder, and τεμνω, to cut.]

The act or practice of opening encysted tumors, for the discharge of morbid matter.

CYTH-E-RE'AN, a.

Pertaining to the goddess Venus.