Sphinx

== Translingual == === Etymology === From Ancient Greek Σφίγξ (Sphínx). === Proper noun === Sphinx f A taxonomic genus within the family Sphingidae – many species of moths. ==== Hypernyms ==== (genus): Eukaryota – superkingdom; Animalia – kingdom; Bilateria – subkingdom; Protostomia – infrakingdom; Ecdysozoa – superphylum; Arthropoda – phylum; Hexapoda – subphylum; Insecta – class; Pterygota – subclass; Neoptera – infraclass; Lepidoptera – order; Glossata – suborder; Heteroneura – infraorder; Ditrysia – division; Cossina – section; Bombycina – subsection; Bombycoidea – superfamily; Sphingidae – family; Sphinginae – subfamily ==== Hyponyms ==== (genus): Sphinx ligustri – type species; for the many others see Sphinx on Wikispecies.Wikispecies === References === Sphinx (moth) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia Sphinx on Wikispecies.Wikispecies Category:Sphinx (Sphingidae) on Wikimedia Commons.Wikimedia Commons == English == === Alternative forms === Sphynx (dated) === Etymology === From Middle English Spynx, from Ancient Greek Σφίγξ (Sphínx), perhaps from σφίγγω (sphíngō, “bind tightly, to strangle”). The appurtenance of Egyptian (šzp, “image, statue, sphinx”) or (šzp-ꜥnḫ, “living image”) remains unclear. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˈsfɪŋks/ Rhymes: -ɪŋks === Proper noun === the Sphinx An ancient, large statue in Egypt, with the face of a man and the body of a lion, lying near the Great Pyramids. Synonyms: the Great Sphinx, the Great Sphinx of Giza (Greek mythology) One of the many offspring of Typhon and Echidna, a winged lion-like creature with a woman's face, who dwelt near the city of Thebes in Boeotia and terrorized travelers by posing riddles, killing those who failed to answer correctly; after Oedipus solved her riddle, she committed suicide out of frustration. Synonyms: the Theban Sphinx, the Thebean Sphinx, the Sphinx of Thebes ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Related terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === Noun === Sphinx (plural Sphinxes or Sphinges) Alternative letter-case form of sphinx (“a sculpture representing the Theban Sphinx”) ==== Translations ==== == German == === Etymology === From Ancient Greek Σφῐ́γξ (Sphĭ́nx). === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /sfɪŋ(k)s/ === Noun === Sphinx f (genitive Sphinx, plural Sphinxe) or Sphinx (sometimes in scientific usage with male beings/statues) m (strong, genitive Sphinx or Sphinxes, plural Sphinxe or Sphingen) sphinx ==== Usage notes ==== Generally speaking, the word is feminine like its Greek etymon. The masculine is sometimes used in scientific usage when the being or statue in question is male. Since this is the case of the Sphinx of Giza, a hypercorrect belief that the masculine is generally more appropriate may exist in some semi-educated speakers. ==== Declension ==== == Latin == === Alternative forms === Sphinga (Medieval Latin) === Etymology === Borrowed from Ancient Greek Σφίγξ (Sphínx). === Noun === Sphinx f (genitive Sphingis); third declension Sphinx ==== Declension ==== Third-declension noun (non-Greek-type or Greek-type, normal variant). ==== Descendants ==== → English: Sphinx → French: (unadapted borrowing) Sphinx Italian: Sfinge Middle French: SphingeFrench: Sphinge Portuguese: Esfinge Spanish: Esfinge === References === “Sphinx”, in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press “Sphinx”, in Gaffiot, Félix (1934), Dictionnaire illustré latin-français, Hachette.