Sphinx n.
1. (a) In Egyptian art, an image of granite or porphyry, having a human head, or the head of a ram or of a hawk, upon the wingless body of a lion.
The awful ruins of the days of old . . .
Or jasper tomb, or mutilated sphinx. --Shelley.
(b) On Greek art and mythology, a she-monster, usually represented as having the winged body of a lion, and the face and breast of a young woman.
Note: The most famous Grecian sphinx, that of Thebes in Bœotia, is said to have proposed a riddle to the Thebans, and killed those who were unable to guess it. The enigma was solved by Œdipus, whereupon the sphinx slew herself. “Subtle as sphinx.”
2. Hence: A person of enigmatical character and purposes, especially in politics and diplomacy.
3. Zool. Any one of numerous species of large moths of the family Sphingidae; -- called also hawk moth. See also tomato worm.
Note: ☞ The larva is a stout naked caterpillar which, when at rest, often assumes a position suggesting the Egyptian sphinx, whence the name.
4. Zool. The Guinea, or sphinx, baboon (Cynocephalus sphinx).
Sphinx baboon Zool., a large West African baboon (Cynocephalus sphinx), often kept in menageries.
Sphinx moth. Zool. Same as Sphinx, 3.
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sphinx moth
n : any of various moths with long narrow forewings capable of
powerful flight and hovering over flowers to feed [syn: hawkmoth,
hawk moth, sphingid, hummingbird moth]