Definition

1. Noun:
   • A large non-venomous constricting snake: A "python" is a type of large, heavy-bodied snake belonging to the family Pythonidae, found in Africa, Asia, and Australia. They kill their prey by coiling around it and squeezing.
   • A spirit or demon in mythology: In ancient Greek mythology, a "Python" was a monstrous serpent or dragon that guarded the oracle at Delphi before being slain by the god Apollo.
   • A person inspired by a spirit: By extension, a "python" can refer to a soothsayer or a person who is believed to be possessed by a prophetic spirit, deriving from the mythological association with the Delphic oracle.

Examples of Usage

• Noun (Animal):
  • The zoo has a large python in the reptile house.
  • Pythons can grow to be over 20 feet long.
• Noun (Mythology/Spirit):
  • Apollo is said to have slain the Python at Delphi.
  • In the story, the priestess was considered a python, channeling divine prophecies.

Advanced Usage

• "To have a python-like grip": This phrase is used metaphorically to describe a very strong, constricting, or unyielding hold on something.
  • The company has a python-like grip on the market, making it hard for competitors to enter.

Variants and Related Words

• Pythonic (adj): Pertaining to or resembling a python, especially in its coiling or constricting nature. It can also refer to things related to the Python programming language.
  • The wrestler applied a pythonic hold to his opponent.
• Pythoness (n): A female soothsayer or prophetess; specifically, the priestess of the oracle at Delphi.
  • The pythoness delivered the cryptic message from the god.

Synonyms

• Boa: Another type of large constricting snake, though from a different biological family (Boidae).
• Serpent: A general, often literary, term for a snake, which can be used in mythological contexts.
• Oracle / Prophet: For the sense of a person inspired by a spirit.

Related Phrases

• "To be squeezed by the python of debt": A metaphorical phrase describing being trapped or overwhelmed by financial obligations.
  • Many families are being squeezed by the python of debt in the current economy.

Related Idioms

• "A python in the grass": A variation of "a snake in the grass," meaning a hidden danger or treacherous person. It emphasizes the danger as being large and powerful.
  • He seemed friendly, but he turned out to be a real python in the grass.

Noun

1. (Greek mythology) dragon killed by Apollo at Delphi
2. a soothsaying spirit or a person who is possessed by such a spirit
3. large Old World boas