sphinx

Meaning

Noun

1. A creature with the head of a person and the body of an animal, commonly a lion.
2. (figuratively) A person who keeps their thoughts and intentions secret; an enigmatic or impassive person.
3. (dated) A mandrill (Mandrillus sphinx), formerly classified as a baboon, and called sphinx baboon.
4. A sphinx moth.
5. (euphemistic, rare) A sphincter.

Verb

1. (transitive) To decorate with sphinxes.
2. (intransitive, transitive) To adopt the posture of the Sphinx.
3. (intransitive, transitive) To be inscrutable, often through silence.
4. (intransitive) To behave in a manner characteristic of the Sphinx.

Synonyms

Sphinx

sphinx-baboon

swan

🦢

hawk moth

humming bird moth

Translations

sphinx

Sphinx

esfinge

esfinx

sfinge

esfinge

sfinx

أبو الهول

σφίγγα

sfenks

sphynx

σφιγξ

بلهون

بلاهين

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈsfɪŋks/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: Spynx

In summary

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”).