Cynosure

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈsɪnəzjʊə/

Definitions

1. A person or thing that is the center of attention or admiration, or a guiding star used for navigation
2. A central figure or object that attracts attention and admiration, serving both as a focus of public interest and as a navigational reference akin to a guiding star
3. A focal point that captivates interest and admiration, functioning as both a symbol of guidance like a star and an object of public attention

Etymology: The Greek name "Kunósoura" meant "dog's tail," and it was applied to the constellation we now call Ursa Minor, the Little Bear. Its brightest star, Polaris, sits at the end of the handle of the Little Dipper and stays nearly fixed in the night sky while the others wheel around it, which made the constellation a reliable guide for navigators and travelers. The name passed into Latin as "Cynosura" and then into Middle French, and English took it from there. The meaning shifted from the star-pattern to the thing that draws the eye. A guiding star became a figure of anything that acts as a point of attraction or direction, and by the English usage the word settled on a person or object that holds everyone's gaze. The imagery of a fixed star that everything else turns around explains why the sense of "centre" stuck.

Synonyms: focus, center, guiding light

Antonyms: disregard, neglect