[sphinx] n, pl sphinx.es or sphin.ges [L, fr. Gk Sphinx, Sphix] 1 a cap: a winged female monster in Greek mythology having a woman's head and a lion's body and noted for killing anyone unable to answer its riddle b: an enigmatic or mysterious person
2: an ancient Egyptian image in the form of a recumbent lion having a man's head, a ram's head, or a hawk's head
3: hawkmoth -- sphinx.like adj