Standard Lemma guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
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name
An ancient, large statue in Egypt, with the face of a man and the body of a lion, lying near the Great Pyramids.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: the Great Sphinx, the Great Sphinx of Giza
Antonyms: none provided
name
One of the many offspring of Typhon and Echidna, a winged lion-like creature with a woman's face, who dwelt near the city of Thebes in Boeotia and terrorized travelers by posing riddles, killing those who failed to answer correctly; after Oedipus solved her riddle, she committed suicide out of frustration.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: Greek
Topics: human-sciences, mysticism, mythology, philosophy, sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: the Theban Sphinx, the Thebean Sphinx, the Sphinx of Thebes
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A creature with the head of a person and the body of an animal, commonly a lion.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: human-sciences, mysticism, mythology, philosophy, sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A person who keeps their thoughts and intentions secret; an enigmatic or impassive person.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: figuratively
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: enigma
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A mandrill (Mandrillus sphinx), formerly classified as a baboon, and called sphinx baboon.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: dated
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A sphinx moth.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A sphincter.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: euphemistic, rare
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Alternative letter-case form of sphinx (“a sculpture representing the Theban Sphinx”)
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: alt-of
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To decorate with sphinxes.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To adopt the posture of the Sphinx.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive, transitive
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To be inscrutable, often through silence.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive, transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To behave in a manner characteristic of the Sphinx.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
one of a number of large stone statues with the body of a lion and the head of a man that were built by the ancient Egyptians
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: statue
noun
(Greek mythology) a riddling winged monster with a woman's head and breast on a lion's body; daughter of Typhon
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: mythical monster, mythical creature
noun
an inscrutable person who keeps his thoughts and intentions secret
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: person, individual, someone, somebody, mortal, soul
History
From Middle English Spynx, from Ancient Greek Σφίγξ (Sphínx), perhaps from σφίγγω (sphíngō, “bind tightly, to strangle”). The appurtenance of Egyptian Szp:p-A53 (šzp, “image, statue, sphinx”) or Szp:p-A53-anx-n:x (šzp-ꜥnḫ, “living image”) remains unclear.
From Sphinx, from Middle English Spynx, from Latin Sphinx, from Ancient Greek Σφίγξ (Sphínx), perhaps either from σφίγγω (sphíngō, “to squeeze, to strangle”) (whence also sphincter), of Pre-Greek origin, or from Egyptian Szp:p-A53-anx-n:x (šzp-ꜥnḫ, “divine image”, literally “living image”).
Across languages
121 source translations are retained for this English entry.
