a. [f. as prec. + -AL.]
1. Resembling the Cynic philosophers in contempt of pleasure, churlishness, or disposition to find fault; characteristic of a cynic; surly, currish, misanthropic, captious; now esp. disposed to disbelieve in human sincerity or goodness; sneering.
1588. Greene, Pandosto (1607), 24. Canst thou not loue? Commeth this Cynicall passion of prone desires, or peeuish frowardnes?
1615. J. Stephens, Satyr. Ess. (ed. 2), 43. They seeke … To be accounted sharpe and Cynicall.
1670. P. Henry, Diaries & Lett. (1882), 225. In lodging, diet, apparel, cynical below the calling of a Gospel minister.
1814. D’Israeli, Quarrels Auth. (1867), 440. Our cynical Hobbes had no respect for his species.
1875. Farrar, Silence & Voices, iii. 65. A cynical journalism which sneered at every belief.
† 2. Belonging to the sect of Cynic philosophers; = CYNIC a. 1. Obs. rare.
1675. Otway, Alcibiades, 33. Let the Cynical fool call pleasure a toy.
3. With etymological allusion: Relating to a dog; dog-like.
1616. Bullokar, Cynicall, doggish.
c. 1645. Howell, Lett. (1650), III. 27. Besides this Cinicall, ther is a kind of Wolvish humor hath seizd upon most of this peeple.
1869. Sir G. Bowyer, in Times, 15 Sept., 10/5. Instead of writing to his Holiness in ‘ecclesiastical Latin’ (to which a more cynical name might be given).
