CYN 



CYN 



nearly, as triple the altitude of the cylin- 

 der to double the diameter of the sphere. 

 CYLISTA, in botany, a genus of the 

 Diadelphia Decandria class and order. 

 Natural order of Papilionacese or Legti- 

 minosz. Essential character : calyx very 

 large, four-parted ; the upper division 

 cleftat the end; corolla permanent. There 

 is but one species, viz. C. villosu, hairy 

 cylista. It flowers in April and May ; was 

 introduced in 1776, but from what _coun- 

 try is not known. It is a shrub, and re- 

 quires the heat of the stove to preserve it. 

 CYMATIUM, in architecture, the 

 crowning members of a cornice, being 

 Bynonymous with cyma recta, and cynaa 

 re versa. 



CYMBACHNE, in botany, a genus of 

 the Polygamia Monoecia class and order. 

 Natural order of Gramina, or grasses. 

 Essential character : inflorescence half 

 spiked ; herm, calyx two-glumed, one- 

 flowered, parallel to the rachis; outer 

 valve, linear, the opposite boat-form ; fe- 

 male calyx one-glumed, ovate, opposite 

 to the rachis. One species, vis. C. ciliata. 

 This is a slender grass, a foot in height, 

 with several culms, simple or branched, 

 with a single leaf, or leaflets. It is found 

 in Bengal. 



CYMBAL, a musical instrument in use 

 among the ancients. The cymbal \v:is 

 round, made of brass, like our kettle- 

 drums, and, as some think, in their form, 

 but smaller, and of different use. 



CY.VIBAR1A, in botany, a genus of the 

 Didynamia Angiospermia class and order. 

 Natural order of Personatse. Scrophula- 

 rix, Jussieu v Essential character: calyx 

 ten-toothed ; capsule cordate, two-celled. 

 There is only one species, viz. C. daurica, 

 a native of the mountains of Uauria. 



CYNANCtllJM, in botany, a genus of 

 the Pentandria Digynia class and order. 

 Natural order of Contortz. Apocinez, 

 Jussieu. Essential character : contorted ; 

 nectary cylindric, five-toothed. There 

 are twenty-seven species. These shrubs 

 are commonly twining ; leaves opposite; 

 flowers axillary or terminating, disposed 

 in spikes, corymbs, or umbels. These are 

 plants chiefly inhabitants of hot climates. 

 They are tender, and will not thrive in 

 this country, unless they are placed in a 

 bark stove. A new species has been 

 discovered in Egypt by Mr. Nectour, to 

 which he has given the specific name of 

 Oieafolium. He, says this species is mixed 

 with the capia lanceolate of Lamark, or 

 true senna : and that the natives say it is 

 superior to the senna as a mild purga- 

 tive. 



VOL. IV. 



CYN ARA, the artichoke, a genus of the 

 Syngcnesia Polygamia JEquahs class and 

 order. Natural order of Composite Ca- 

 pitalae. Cinarocephalz, Jussieu. Essen- 

 tial character: calyx dilated, imbricate, 

 with fleshy scales, emarginate with an 

 acumen. There are six species. The 

 artichoke in its wild state is said to attain 

 the height of a man. The leaves are 

 more tomentose than in the garden plant, 

 and every small division of them ia arm- 

 ed with a strong yellowish spine. The 

 heads are smaller, and have larger 

 stronger spines at the ends of the scales. 

 It is a native of the South of Europe. In 

 some parts it is eaten raw in its wild 

 state by the common people. It will dye 

 a good yellow : the flowers are used in- 

 stead of rennet to turn milk for cheese. 

 The whole plant has a peculiar smell, and 

 a strong bitter taste. 



CYNICS, a sect of ancient philosophers, 

 who valued themselves upon their con- 

 tempt of riches and state, arts and sci- 

 ences, and every thing, in short, except 

 virtue or morality. 



The sect of the Cynics, founded by 

 Antistlienes, is not so much to be regard- 

 ed as a school of philosophy, as an insti- 

 tution of manners. It was formed, rather 

 .for the purpose of providing a remedy 

 for the moral disorders of luxury, ambi- 

 tion, and avarice, than with a view to es- 

 tablish any new theory of speculative 

 opinions. The disciples of Antisthenes, 

 and other leaders of this sect, considered 

 their masters, not as authors of any new 

 doctrine, but as patrons of strict and in- 

 flexible virtue ; and were regarded by 

 them, rather as examples for their 

 imitation in the conduct of life, than as 

 preceptors to guide them in the search 

 of truth. 



The sole end of the Cynic philosophy 

 was, to subdue the passions, and produce 

 simplicity of manners. The characteris- 

 tic peculiarities of the sect were, an in- 

 dignant contempt of effeminate vices, 

 and a rigorous adherence to the rules of 

 moral discipline. A Cynic, according to 

 the original spirit of the sect, was one 

 who appeared in a coarse garb, and car- 

 ried a wallet and stuff, as external sym- 

 bols of severity, and who regarded every 

 thing with indifference, except that kind 

 of virtue which consists in a haughty 

 contempt of external good, and a hardy 

 endurance of external ill. Simplicity and 

 moderation were indeed in this sect car- 

 ried to the extreme of austerity, and at 

 last produced the Stoic system of apathy ; 

 but the real design of the founders, both 

 of the Cynic and the Stoic sect, seems to 



