Sphinx

Meaning

1. 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) 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

sphinx

Translations

Sphinx

Sphinx

Sfinge

Sfinx

Esfinge

Esfinge

Σφίγγα

Sphinx

Esfinx

σφίγγα

Sphinx

Sphinx

Sphingis

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈsfɪŋks/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: Spynx

Cognate with Ancient Egyptian: šzp

In summary

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.