sphinx

Noun

A mythical creature with a human head and a lion's body.
an inscrutable person who keeps his thoughts and intentions secret
(Greek mythology) a riddling winged monster with a woman's head and breast on a lion's body; daughter of Typhon
one of a number of large stone statues with the body of a lion and the head of a man that were built by the ancient Egyptians
A creature with the head of a person and the body of an animal, commonly a lion.
A person who keeps their thoughts and intentions secret; an enigmatic or impassive person.
A mandrill (Mandrillus sphinx), formerly classified as a baboon, and called sphinx baboon.
A sphinx moth.
A sphincter.

Verb

To decorate with sphinxes.
To adopt the posture of the Sphinx.
To be inscrutable, often through silence.
To behave in a manner characteristic of the Sphinx.

Examples

A hot lion with a very bloated stomach … will adopt either a sphinxed or a squatting posture which takes some of the weight off its belly.
a marble sphinxed chimney-piece
Several animals maintained either a crouched … or a sphinxing posture (abdomen on the floor)
The Scrabble player posed a sphinx-like riddle with his obscure word choice.

Origin / Etymology

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”).

Synonyms

enigma

Scrabble Score: 18

sphinx: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
sphinx: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
sphinx: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 19

sphinx: valid Words With Friends Word