sphinge

alternative letter-case form of la Sphinge: the Sphinx (one of the many offspring of Typhon and Echidna, a winged lion-like creature with a woman's face, who dwelt near the city of Thebes in Boeotia and terrorized travelers by posing riddles, killing those who failed to answer correctly; after Oedipus solved her riddle, she committed suicide out of frustration)

“D’après les mythographes à tendance evhémériste, la sphinge était une fille naturelle de Laius ou d'Ucalégon, la femme de Macareus et de Cadmus ou une simple femme thébaine.”

From Latin sphingem f, from Ancient Greek Σφίγξ f (Sphínx). Cognate with Italian sfinge f, Portuguese esfinge f, Spanish esfinge f.

sphinx (a sculpture representing the Sphinx of Greek mythology)

“À l'entrée du monastère d'Altenbourg, deux sphinges de pierre aux poitrines parfaitement rondes que rehaussent une cuirasse et un collier plat, montent une garde ambiguë.”

Related: sphingien, sphingique

From Latin sphingem f, from Ancient Greek Σφίγξ f (Sphínx). Cognate with Italian sfinge f, Portuguese esfinge f, Spanish esfinge f.