So, I keep seeing this word used IG/IC. I had not heard of it before so I investigated (that's what teachers do, I suppose). I find the following information:
cy·no·sure
?s?n??SHo?or,?sin-/
noun
noun: cynosure; plural noun: cynosures
1 capitalized : the northern constellation Ursa Minor; also : north star
2 one that serves to direct or guide (in this case his "committment" was his "cynosure")
3 a center of attraction or attention <turned an="" eyesore="" into="" a="" cynosure="" —="" catherine="" reynolds="">(in this case, something ugly became beautiful, and thus, the center of attention)
Origin
Yet the usage I'm seeing IG/IC does not reflect the above information. For example:
@Polaris:
…It is said even Roger Clement of Shylock's, protected by cynosure and hardened by the vagaries of Old Town, lives in daily terror of the tiefling entering his establishment.
@RedGallant:
We can speak under cynosure in Shylocks.
@Polaris:
Cynosureis upheld. ~Citizen, The Plebian Court~
@AlabamaBeautyQueen:
Will the status of cynosure continue, if neutrality is maintained in regards to the Mains…
It seems that the word is being (mis)used as a synonym for some banner of "truce" or "neutrality". And maybe it's because I'm a teacher that this bothers me. So if someone could explain why it's being used this way, I'd appreciate it. Maybe there's some sort of reference I'm not getting?
Maureen