sphinx
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sphinx¹
- /ˈsfɪŋks/
Rhymes with -ɪŋks
Where it comes from
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”).
noun sphinxes · sphinges · sphynx · spynx · phynx
- A creature with the head of a person and the body of an animal, commonly a lion. [W]hatsoe'er of strange / Sculptured on alabaster obelisk, / Or jasper tomb, or mutilated sphynx, / Dark Æthiopia in her desert hills. / Conceals.
-
A person who keeps their thoughts and intentions secret; an enigmatic or impassive person.
...it is clear that judges are no longer required to be as passive as they once were; to be what I call sphinx judges. We now not only accept that a judge may intervene in the adversarial debate, but also believe that it is sometimes essential for him to do so for justice in fact to be done.
Similar: enigma
- A mandrill (Mandrillus sphinx), formerly classified as a baboon, and called sphinx baboon.
- A sphinx moth.
- A sphincter. Constance said boastfully, ‘My sphinxes are strong and in good repair. I order you to come.’
verb sphinxes · sphinxing · sphinxed · sphynx · spynx
- To decorate with sphinxes. a marble sphinxed chimney-piece
- To adopt the posture of the Sphinx. A hot lion with a very bloated stomach … will adopt either a sphinxed or a squatting posture which takes some of the weight off its belly.
- To be inscrutable, often through silence. The sphinxèd riddle of the Universe, Nature's unsolved enigma, who may prove?
- To behave in a manner characteristic of the Sphinx. Perhaps Nature is sphinxing us on purpose. Whatever her objects may be, perhaps she gets her work done better when she appeals to our gambling instincts. If you knew for certain exactly how your marriage was going to turn out[…]
Sphinx²
- /ˈsfɪŋks/
Rhymes with -ɪŋks
Where it comes from
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.
proper noun the Sphinx · Sphynx
-
An ancient, large statue in Egypt, with the face of a man and the body of a lion, lying near the Great Pyramids.
Similar: the Great Sphinx, the Great Sphinx of Giza
-
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.
Similar: the Theban Sphinx, the Thebean Sphinx, the Sphinx of Thebes
noun Sphinxes · Sphinges · Sphynx
- Alternative letter-case form of sphinx (“a sculpture representing the Theban Sphinx”) In the third, which leadeth to the fonts and walkes, are two Sphinges very curiouſly carued in braſſe […]
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: moth, andro, mandrillus, moths, hieracosphinx, criosphinx, satyral, manticore, sphynx, leogryph, doghead, cynocephalus, hippocampus, zoomorph, lioness, tiger
Translations
Every language
noun mythology: creature with the head of a person and the body of an animal
| Español | esfinge |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 스핑크스 seupingkeuseu |
| 日本語 | スフィンクス sufinkusu, 人獅 jinshi, 人頭獅身 jintō shimi, 獅子女 shishime |
| 中文 | 斯芬克斯 sīfēnkèsī, 人頭獅身 /人头狮身 réntóushīshēn, 獅頭人像 /狮头人像 shītóurénxiàng |
| Português | esfinge |
| Français | sphinx, sphinge |
| Deutsch | Sphinx |
| Italiano | sfinge |
| Ελληνικά | σφίγγα sfínga |
| Română | sfinx |
| Русский | сфинкс sfinks |
| Tiếng Việt | nhân sư |
| العربية | أَبُو الهَوْل ʔabū l-hawl |
noun person who keeps his/her thoughts and intentions secret
| Português | esfinge |
|---|---|
| Deutsch | Sphinx |
| Română | sfinx |
name large monument in Egypt
| Español | Esfinge |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 스핑크스 Seupingkeuseu |
| 日本語 | スフィンクス Sufinkusu |
| 中文 | 斯芬克斯 Sīfēnkèsī |
| हिन्दी | गूढ़ व्यक्ति gūṛh vyakti |
| Português | Esfinge |
| Français | Sphinx |
| Deutsch | Sphinx |
| Italiano | Sfinge |
| Ελληνικά | Σφίγγα Sfínga |
| Русский | Сфинкс Sfinks |
| Tiếng Việt | Nhân sư |
| العربية | أَبُو الْهَوْل ʔabū l-hawl |
| עברית | סְפִינְקְס sfinks |
Talk about this word "sphinx." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/sphinx. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. sphinx. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/sphinx "sphinx." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/sphinx.Cite this
@misc{sphinx_2026,
title = {sphinx},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/sphinx},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
