Cȳn'o-sūre, n.
(sĭn'o-shūr, or sī'no-shūr), n. [Lat. cynosura, Gr. κυνόσουρα, dog's-tail, the cynosure, from κύων, genitive κυνός, dog, and οὐρά, tail.]
Sense 1. The constellation of the Lesser Bear, to which, as containing the polar star, the eyes of mariners and travelers are often directed.
Sense 2. Any thing to which attention is strongly turned; a center of attraction; that which serves to direct.
Where perhaps some beauty lies, The cynosure of neighboring eyes. Milton.
Let us see if there be not some principles, which, if steadily kept in view, might serve as a cynosure to direct you in this unknown navigation. Southey.