noun · femininethird declension
sphinx1
sphinx f (genitive sphingis)
Classical[ˈspʰɪŋks]Ecclesiastical[ˈsfiŋks]
Meaning
- femininesphinx
Declension
| form | singular | plural |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | sphinx | sphingēs sphingae |
| genitive | sphingis sphingos, Sphingae | sphingum sphingārum |
| dative | sphingī Sphingae | sphingibus |
| accusative | sphingem sphinga, Sphingam | sphingēs sphingas |
| ablative | sphinge | sphingibus |
| vocative | sphinx | sphingēs sphingae |
Sphinx, ngis (Gr.
I. gen. Sphingos, Stat. Th. 1, 66), f., = Σφίγξ.
I. A fabulous monster near Thebes that used to propose riddles to travellers, and tear in pieces those who could not solve them; usually represented with the head of a woman and the body of a lion, afterwards also with the wings of a bird;
or, also, with the head of a man and the body of a lion, Plin. 36, 12, 17, § 77 sqq.; Aus. Idyll. 11, 40; Sen. Phoen. 119; id. Oedip. 92; Stat. Th. 1, 66; Plaut. Poen. 1, 3, 35; Hyg. Fab. 67 al.—Augustus had the figure of a sphinx upon his seal, as a symbol of silence, Suet. Aug. 50; Plin. 37, 1, 4, § 10.—Plur.: pedes formati in speciem sphingum, Fest. s. v. picati, p. 206.— In a lusus verbb., Quint. 6, 3, 98.—II. A species of ape, perh. the chimpanzee, Plin. 8, 21, 30, § 72; Mel. 3, 9; Sol. 27 fin.
Origins
From Ancient Greek Σφίγξ (Sphínx), perhaps from σφίγγω (sphíngō, “to squeeze, to strangle”) or from Egyptian Szp:p-A53-anx-n:x (šzp-ꜥnḫ, “divine image”, literally “living image”).
Descendants
- Englishsphinx
- Frenchsphinge
- Frenchsphinx
- Italiansfinge
- Portugueseesfinge
- Spanishesfinge