SPHINX • FREE TRANSLATOR.ORG • Definition of Sphinx

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/sfɪŋks/ Listen

noun

Sphinx n.

(a)

In Egyptian art, an image of granite or porphyry, having a human head, or the head of a ram or of a hawk, upon the wingless body of a lion. "The awful ruins of the days of old... Or jasper tomb, or mutilated sphinx."

(b)

On Greek art and mythology, a she-monster, usually represented as having the winged body of a lion, and the face and breast of a young woman. Note: The most famous Grecian sphinx, that of Thebes in Boeotia, is said to have proposed a riddle to the Thebans, and killed those who were unable to guess it. The enigma was solved by OEdipus, whereupon the sphinx slew herself. "Subtle as sphinx."

Hence: A person of enigmatical character and purposes, especially in politics and diplomacy.

(Zool.) Any one of numerous species of large moths of the family Sphingidae; called also hawk moth. See also tomato worm. Note: The larva is a stout naked caterpillar which, when at rest, often assumes a position suggesting the Egyptian sphinx, whence the name.

(Zool.) The Guinea, or sphinx, baboon (Cynocephalus sphinx).

Sphinx baboon (Zool.), a large West African baboon (Cynocephalus sphinx), often kept in menageries.

Sphinx moth. (Zool.) Same as Sphinx, 3.

See images of 'Sphinx'

Etymology of 'Sphinx'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Sphinx" Quotes from Famous Books

... the sun-god Helios, lies before us, bathed in glowing sunshine. The foreground is a luxurious garden whose groves of palms and fantastic southern trees extend in deepening shade into the background. {405} A colossal sphinx crouches at the gates of Kirke's palace on the left. Springs of water, represented by four attendant nymphs sing to their queen in melodious harmony. But Kirke—a lovely vision in soft flowing robes of yellow ...

— The Standard Operaglass - Detailed Plots of One Hundred and Fifty-one Celebrated Operas • Charles Annesley

... tangible and real stones of Holborn Hill, an undersized boy; and yet he winked the winks, and thought the thoughts, and did the deeds, and said the sayings of an ancient man. There was an old principle within him, and a young surface without. He became an inexplicable creature; a breeched and booted Sphinx. There was no course open to the barber, but to go distracted himself, or to take Bailey for granted; and he ...

— Life And Adventures Of Martin Chuzzlewit • Charles Dickens

... which he calls a 'sphinx,' And O what questions asked in club-foot rhyme Of Earth the tongueless, and the deaf-mute Time! Here babbling 'Insight' shouts in Nature's ears His last conundrum on the orbs and spheres; There Self-inspection ...

— Brief History of English and American Literature • Henry A. Beers

... what they should be. Let Angelina be always spotless and Edwin always true. Let virtue ever triumph over villainy in the last chapter; and let us assume that the marriage service answers all the questions of the Sphinx. ...

— Idle Ideas in 1905 • Jerome K. Jerome

... examined every foot of the ground carefully, and at intervals had halted and yelled at the top of his lungs—had even persuaded 'Merican Joe to launch forth his own peculiarly penetrating call, but their only answer was the dead, sphinx-like silence ...

— Connie Morgan in the Fur Country • James B. Hendryx

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