sphinx

sphinx · noun, verb¹

1. Egyptian · derived fromSzp:p-A53-anx-n:x“divine image”
2. Pre-Greek · derived from
3. Ancient Greek · derived fromΣφίγξ
4. Latin · derived fromSphinx
5. Middle English · inherited fromSpynx
6. English todaysphinx

From Sphinx, from Middle English Spynx, from Latin Sphinx, from Ancient Greek Σφίγξ (Sphínx), perhaps either from σφίγγω (sphíngō, “to squeeze, to strangle”) (whence also sphincter), of Pre-Greek origin, or from Egyptian Szp:p-A53-anx-n:x (šzp-ꜥnḫ, “divine image”, literally “living image”).

Sphinx · proper noun, noun²

1. Ancient Greek · derived fromΣφίγξ
2. Middle English · inherited fromSpynx
3. English todaySphinx

From Middle English Spynx, from Ancient Greek Σφίγξ (Sphínx), perhaps from σφίγγω (sphíngō, “bind tightly, to strangle”). The appurtenance of Egyptian Szp:p-A53 (šzp, “image, statue, sphinx”) or Szp:p-A53-anx-n:x (šzp-ꜥnḫ, “living image”) remains unclear.

Words from the same roots