sfɪŋks n. 1 (Sphinx) (in
Greek mythology)
the winged
monster of Thebes, having a woman's
head and a lion's
body,
whose riddle Oedipus guessed and
who consequently killed
herself. 2 Antiq. a
any of
several ancient
Egyptian stone figures having a lion's body and a
human or
animal head. b (the Sphinx) the
huge sphinx
near the Pyramids at Giza. 3 an enigmatic or
inscrutable person. 4 a a hawk
moth. b a
species of
baboon, Papio sphinx. [L f. Gk Sphigx, app. f. sphiggo
draw tight]