What does Cynosport mean?

This week I've had many folks ask me the meaning of Cynosport. You know, the Cynosport World Games that are going on in Scottsdale, Arizona this week and weekend.

So here's what we found:

One source indicates: Cyno- is Greek for dog
Another source indicates: Cyno (pronounced see-no) is Latin for dog

Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged - defines Cyno as:

cyn- or cyno- combining form (ME cyno-, fr. L, fr. Gk kyn-,
kyno-, fr. kyn-, kyon dog) : dog

At least they all agree! Add on the word sport and you have - Dog Sport.

There are many words containing the combining form including:

• cynophobia: a fear of dogs
• cynophilist: a lover of dogs
• cynanthropy, kynanthropy: the delusion that one is a dog
• cyniatria, cyniatrics, cyniatric: is a branch of veterinary medicine that specializes in the treatment of dogs, and the study of canine diseases
• cynic, cynics: a member of a sect of ancient Greek philosophers who believed virtue to be the only good and self-control to be the only means of achieving virtue. The Greek word kunikos, from which "cynic" comes, was originally an adjective meaning "doglike", from kuōn, "dog"

And my favorite!

• cynolatry: the worship of dogs (just as it should be!)
  

There you have it! Enjoy!