sphinx
A creature with the head of a person and the body of an animal, commonly a lionA creature with the head of a person and the body of an animal, commonly a lion.
» The Sphinx began to walk around him.
Meaning
5 sensesA creature with the head of a person and the body of an animal, commonly a lion.
Sphinx
сфинксsfinks
сфінксsfinks
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
(figuratively)A person who keeps their thoughts and intentions secret; an enigmatic or impassive person.
Sphinx
an inscrutable person who keeps their thoughts and intentions secret
(dated)A mandrill (Mandrillus sphinx), formerly classified as a baboon, and called sphinx baboon.
A sphinx moth.
(euphemistic, rare)A sphincter.
Examples
13 sentencesThe Sphinx began to walk around him.
Jackdaws love my big sphinx of quartz.
ruГалкам нравится мой большой кварцевый сфинкс.
What is a sphinx?
What sphinx of cement and aluminum bashed open their skulls and ate up their brains and imagination?
This terrible monster was the Sphinx.
deDieses schreckliche Monster war die Sphinx.
Translations
9 languagesBy meaning 1
By meaning 1
By meaning 1
Origin
From Sphinx, from Middle English Spynx, from Latin Sphinx, from Ancient Greek Σφίγξ (SphínFrom 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”).
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