Sphinx

See also: sphinx

Translingual

Sphinx ligustri

Etymology

From Ancient Greek Σφίγξ (Sphínx).

Proper noun

Sphinx f

  1. A taxonomic genus within the family Sphingidae – many species of moths.

Hypernyms

Hyponyms

References

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

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
A53anxn
x

(šzp-ꜥnḫ, living image) remains unclear.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈsfɪŋks/
  • (file)
  • Rhymes: -ɪŋks

Proper noun

Sphinx (plural Sphinges)

  1. (usually with "the") An ancient, large statue in Egypt, with the face of a man and the body of a lion, lying near the Great Pyramids.
  2. (Greek mythology) One of the many offspring of Typhon and Echidna, a winged lion-like creature with a woman's face, who committed suicide out of frustration after Oedipus managed to solve her riddles.

Synonyms

  • (definite: large statue in Egypt): The Great Sphinx, The Great Sphinx of Giza

Derived terms

Translations

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

German

Etymology

From Ancient Greek Σφῐ́γξ (Sphínx).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /sfɪŋ(k)s/
  • (file)

Noun

Sphinx f (genitive Sphinx, plural Sphinxe) or
Sphinx (sometimes in scientific usage with male beings/statues) m (strong, genitive Sphinx or Sphinxes, plural Sphinxe or Sphingen)

  1. sphinx

Usage notes

  • Generally speaking, the word is feminine like its Greek etymon. The masculine is sometimes used in scientific usage when the being or statue in question is male. Since this is the case of the Sphinx of Giza, a hypercorrect belief that the masculine is generally more appropriate may exist in some semi-educated speakers.

Declension

Latin

Etymology

From Ancient Greek Σφίγξ (Sphínx).

Noun

Sphinx f (genitive Sphingis); third declension

  1. Sphinx

Declension

Third-declension noun (non-Greek-type or Greek-type, normal variant).

Case Singular Plural
Nominative Sphinx Sphingēs
Sphinges
Genitive Sphingis
Sphingos
Sphingum
Dative Sphingī Sphingibus
Accusative Sphingem
Sphinga
Sphingēs
Sphingas
Ablative Sphinge Sphingibus
Vocative Sphinx Sphingēs
Sphinges

References

  • Sphinx”, in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  • Sphinx in Gaffiot, Félix (1934) Dictionnaire illustré latin-français, Hachette.
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