Bram Stoker
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In Hellenic and Roman legend, a basilisk (also called a cockatrice) was a serpent-like creature capable of destroying other creatures by way of its deadly stare. The modern basilisk is a lizard that belongs to the family Iguanidae and supposedly resembles this fabled monster; it has a large, inflatable crest atop its head and is sometimes called a "Jesus Christ lizard" for its ability to run quickly across the surface of water. The use of "basilisk" as an adjective occurs most frequently in phrases such as "basilisk stare"; recalling the notorious gaze of the legendary basilisk, it describes the deep and piercing look of someone who is frightening or seductive.
Examples of basilisk in a Sentence
Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 6 June 2025
Unlike basilisk lizards or sailfin dragons, which have similarly large fins today, Dimetrodon’s crests weren’t flexible.
—Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 30 July 2024
Scientists have studied the basilisk lizard and other water-traversing creatures, like the Western grebe, for decades, as Sharp outlines in her article.
—James Factora, Them, 24 July 2024
How ought one truss the chicken half of a half-chicken, half-snake basilisk?
—Margaret Lyons, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2024
Its circular outline encloses the shape of a mythical creature: the basilisk.
—Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Mar. 2024
Experts said the badge depicts a basilisk dragon, which in ancient times was a mythological monster-like serpent known to kill its prey with just a look or a breath.
—Moira Ritter, Miami Herald, 4 Mar. 2024
Berry’s public image showcased a winning smile and a winking eye, whereas most reports of backstage meetings tended to emphasize a forbidding scowl and basilisk stare.
—Matthew Gavin Frank, Harper's Magazine, 4 May 2023
The common basilisk lizard is known as the Jesus Christ lizard for its astounding ability to literally run on water.
—Discover Magazine, 10 Aug. 2010
Cite this Entry
“Basilisk.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/basilisk. Accessed 15 Jul. 2025.
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