phalanx

== English == === Etymology === Borrowed from Latin phalanx or Ancient Greek φάλαγξ (phálanx, “battle order; array”). Doublet of phalange, planch, plancha, planche, and plank. === Pronunciation === (UK, General Australian) IPA(key): /ˈfælæŋks/, /fəˈlæŋks/ (US) IPA(key): /ˈfeɪˌlæŋks/ Hyphenation: pha‧lanx Rhymes: -ælæŋks, -æŋks, -eɪlæŋks === Noun === phalanx (plural phalanxes or (literary, formal or academic) phalanges) (historical) An ancient Greek and Macedonian military unit that consisted of several ranks and files (lines) of soldiers in close array with joined shields and long spears. A large group of people, animals or things, compact or closely massed, or tightly knit and united in common purpose. (historical sociology) A Fourierite utopian community; a phalanstery. phalanx (plural phalanges or (proscribed or archaic) phalanxes) (anatomy) One of the bones of the finger or toe. Synonyms: phalange, (rare) phalangeal (botany) A bundle of stamens, in diadelphous and polyadelphous flowers. ==== Usage notes ==== In modern English, the regular plural phalanxes is strongly preferred in most contexts, because borrowed Ancient Greek plurals such as phalanges are typically seen as unnecessary affectations by most speakers. However, phalanges has become the standard plural in the biological sciences (particularly in relation to human anatomy, zoology and botany); in that context only, the use of phalanxes is generally perceived as an error. ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Related terms ==== ==== Translations ==== == Latin == === Alternative forms === falanx (Late Latin) === Etymology === Borrowed from Ancient Greek φᾰ́λᾰγξ (phắlănx). Compare Latin phalanga. === Pronunciation === (Classical Latin) IPA(key): [ˈpʰa.ɫaŋks] (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA(key): [ˈfaː.laŋks] === Noun === phalanx f (genitive phalangis or phalangos); third declension phalanx; battalion ==== Declension ==== Third-declension noun (non-Greek-type or Greek-type, normal variant; two different stems). ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Related terms ==== ==== Descendants ==== === References === “phalanx”, in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press “phalanx”, in Charlton T. Lewis (1891), An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers “phalanx”, in Gaffiot, Félix (1934), Dictionnaire illustré latin-français, Hachette. Carl Meißner; Henry William Auden (1894), Latin Phrase-Book‎[4], London: Macmillan and Co. “phalanx”, in Harry Thurston Peck, editor (1898), Harper’s Dictionary of Classical Antiquities, New York: Harper & Brothers “phalanx”, in William Smith et al., editor (1890), A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities, London: William Wayte. G. E. Marindin