noun
Usage: often capitalized G
Etymology: Gordi us, mythological founder of Phrygia, who tied an intricate knot in a chariot thong the untying of which was pronounced by oracle to be possible only to one destined to be master of Asia (from Latin, from Greek Gordios ) + English -an
1. : a problem most difficult of solution : an extreme difficulty
this problem of slavery was to me a gordian knot — C.W.Garrison
— usually used in the phrase cut the gordian knot
the temptation to cut the gordian knots of meaning by essentialist definitions — H.D.Aiken
— compare cut the knot at cut I
2. : a knot so involved as not to be easily unraveled : an extremely intricate knot