From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Cynic \Cyn"ic\ (s[i^]n"[i^]k), Cynical \Cyn"ic*al\ (-[i^]*kal),
a. [L. cynicus of the sect of Cynics, fr. Gr. kyniko`s,
prop., dog-like, fr. ky`wn, kyno`s, dog. See {Hound}.]
1. Having the qualities of a surly dog; snarling; captious;
currish.
I hope it is no very cynical asperity not to confess
obligations where no benefit has been received.
--Johnson.
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2. Pertaining to the Dog Star; as, the cynic, or Sothic,
year; cynic cycle.
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3. Belonging to the sect of philosophers called cynics;
having the qualities of a cynic; pertaining to, or
resembling, the doctrines of the cynics.
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4. Given to sneering at rectitude and the conduct of life by
moral principles; believing the worst of human nature and
motives; disbelieving in the reality of any human purposes
which are not suggested or directed by self-interest or
self-indulgence; having a sneering disbelief in the
selflessness of others; as, a cynical man who scoffs at
pretensions of integrity; characterized by such opinions;
as, cynical views of human nature.
Syn: misanthropic, misanthropical.
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Note: In prose, cynical is used rather than cynic, in the
senses 1 and 4.
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{Cynic spasm} (Med.), a convulsive contraction of the muscles
of one side of the face, producing a sort of grin,
suggesting certain movements in the upper lip of a dog.
[1913 Webster]
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
cynical
adj 1: believing the worst of human nature and motives; having a
sneering disbelief in e.g. selflessness of others [syn:
{cynical}, {misanthropic}, {misanthropical}]
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