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sphinx
- pronunciation:
- sfIngks
| part of speech: |
noun |
| inflections: |
sphinges, sphinxes |
| definition 1: |
in Egyptian mythology, a creature with a lion's body and the head of a human or animal.
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| definition 2: |
(cap.) the huge stone statue at Giza, Egypt, representing such a creature.
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| definition 3: |
in Greek mythology, a creature with the head and breast of a woman, the body of a lion, and the wings of an eagle, such as the creature that terrorized Thebes and was destroyed when Oedipus guessed its riddle.
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| definition 4: |
one that is mysterious or hard to understand; enigma.
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| related words: |
conundrum, monster |
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