sphinx Definition

sphinx
noun sphinxes, sphinges

1. Greek mythol.
A monster, with the head of a woman and the body of a lion, which strangled travellers who could not solve its riddle and which was dashed to pieces on the rocks when it leapt from its lair in rage after Oedipus did give the correct answer to the riddle.
Form: Sphinx
2. Any stone carving or other representation in the form of a human head and lion's body, especially the huge recumbent statue near the Egyptian pyramids at Giza.

Form: Sphinx (also)
3. A mysterious or enigmatic person.

Derivative: sphinxlike
adj

Etymology: 14c: Latin, from Greek, from sphingein to hold tight, because of the mythological monster's propensity for strangulation.