Definition

1. Noun:
   • A mythological creature: In Greek mythology, a monster with the head of a woman, the body of a lion, and wings, known for posing a riddle.
   • An ancient Egyptian statue: A large stone statue with the body of a lion and the head of a human (often a pharaoh) or a ram.
   • An enigmatic person: A person who is mysterious, inscrutable, and does not reveal their thoughts or feelings.

Examples of Usage

• Noun (Mythological Creature):

  • Oedipus solved the riddle of the Sphinx.
  • The Sphinx was said to strangle those who could not answer her riddle.

• Noun (Egyptian Statue):

  • The Great Sphinx of Giza is one of the world's most famous monuments.
  • Avenue of Sphinxes connects the temples of Karnak and Luxor.

• Noun (Enigmatic Person):

  • During the interview, the candidate was a sphinx, giving nothing away.
  • She remained a sphinx, her expression revealing no emotion.

Advanced Usage

• "To be a sphinx": To be deliberately mysterious or uncommunicative.

  • The CEO was a sphinx about the company's future plans.

• "Sphinx-like" (adjective): Having a mysterious, inscrutable, or enigmatic quality.

  • She gave a sphinx-like smile, leaving us to wonder what she was thinking.

Variants and Related Words

• Sphinxes (n): Standard plural form.
  • The museum has a collection of small sphinxes.
• Sphinges (n): A less common, classical plural form.
• Androsphinx (n): An Egyptian sphinx with the head of a man.
• Criosphinx (n): An Egyptian sphinx with the head of a ram.
• Hieracosphinx (n): An Egyptian sphinx with the head of a hawk.

Synonyms

• Enigma: A person or thing that is mysterious or difficult to understand.
• Riddle: Something puzzling or enigmatic (can refer to a person).
• Sphinx-like figure: A mysterious or inscrutable statue or person.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• "Riddle of the Sphinx": Refers to a very difficult or complex problem or puzzle. This originates from the myth where the Sphinx asked a riddle.
  • Solving this economic crisis is the modern riddle of the Sphinx.
• "More inscrutable than the Sphinx": Used to describe someone who is extremely difficult to read or understand.
  • His motives were more inscrutable than the Sphinx.

Noun

1. one of a number of large stone statues with the body of a lion and the head of a man that were built by the ancient Egyptians
2. (Greek mythology) a riddling winged monster with a woman's head and breast on a lion's body; daughter of Typhon
3. an inscrutable person who keeps his thoughts and intentions secret