Sphinx
Word-form referencessphinx
Pronunciations (2)
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/ˈsfɪŋks/
-
sfɪŋks
Proper noun
An ancient, large statue in Egypt, with the face of a man and the body of a lion, lying near the Great Pyramids.
- Synonyms
- the Great Sphinxthe 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.
Usage- Greek
- Synonyms
- the Theban Sphinxthe Thebean Sphinxthe Sphinx of Thebes
Noun
(Greek mythology) a riddling winged monster with a woman's head and breast on a lion's body; daughter of Typhon
- Broader terms
Word forms
the SphinxSphynx