Main Entry:

sphinx

Pronunciation:

\ˈsfiŋ(k)s\

Function:

noun

Inflected Form(s):

plural sphinx·es or sphin·ges \ˈsfin-ˌjēz\

Etymology:

Latin, from Greek Sphinx, Sphix

Date:

15th century

1 acapitalized : a winged female monster in Greek mythology having a woman's head and a lion's body and noted for killing anyone unable to answer its riddle b: an enigmatic or mysterious person <she is a sphinx whose features hold a blank fascination>2: an ancient Egyptian image in the form of a recumbent lion having a man's head, a ram's head, or a hawk's head

— sphinx·like \-ˌlīk\ adjective