1. (a) In Egyptian art, an image of granite or porphyry, having a human head, or the head of a ram or
of a hawk, upon the wingless body of a lion.
The awful ruins of the days of old . . .
Or jasper tomb, or mutilated sphinx.
Shelley. (b) On Greek art and mythology, a she-monster, usually represented as having the winged body of a
lion, and the face and breast of a young woman. The most famous Grecian sphinx, that of Thebes in
Bœotia, is said to have proposed a riddle to the Thebans, and killed those who were unable to guess it.
The enigma was solved by &OEligdipus, whereupon the sphinx slew herself. "Subtle as sphinx." Shak.
2. Hence: A person of enigmatical character and purposes, especially in politics and diplomacy.
3. (Zoöl.) Any one of numerous species of large moths of the family Sphingidæ; — called also hawk
moth.
The larva is a stout naked caterpillar which, when at rest, often assumes a position suggesting the Egyptian
sphinx, whence the name.
4. (Zoöl.) The Guinea, or sphinx, baboon
Sphinx baboon (Zoöl.), a large West African baboon often kept in menageries. — Sphinx moth. (Zoöl.)
Same as Sphinx, 3.
Sphragide
(Sphrag"ide) n.[L. sphragis, -idis, Lemnian earth, fr. Gr. a seal; — so called because sold in
sealed packets.] (Min.) Lemnian earth.
Sphragistics
(Sphra*gis"tics) n. [Gr. of or for sealing, fr. a seal.] The science of seals, their history,
age, distinctions, etc., esp. as verifying the age and genuiness of documents.
Sphrigosis
(||Sphri*go"sis) n. [NL., fr. Gr. to be full of strength.] (Bot.) A condition of vegetation in
which there is too abundant growth of the stem and leaves, accompanied by deficiency of flowers and
fruit.
Sphygmic
(Sphyg"mic) a. [Gr. the pulse.] (Physiol.) Of or pertaining to the pulse.
Sphygmogram
(Sphyg"mo*gram) n. [Gr. pulse + -gram.] (Physiol.) A tracing, called a pulse tracing,
consisting of a series of curves corresponding with the beats of the heart, obtained by the application of
the sphygmograph.
Sphygmograph
(Sphyg"mo*graph) n. [Gr. the pulse + -graph.] (Physiol.) An instrument which, when
applied over an artery, indicates graphically the movements or character of the pulse. See Sphygmogram.
Sphygmographic
(Sphyg`mo*graph"ic) a. (Phusiol.) Relating to, or produced by, a sphygmograph; as,
a sphygmographic tracing.
Sphygmometer
(Sphyg*mom"e*ter) n. [Gr. pulse + -meter.] (Physiol.) An instrument for measuring
the strength of the pulse beat; a sphygmograph.
Sphygmophone
(Sphyg"mo*phone) n. [Gr. the pulse + sound.] (Physiol.) An electrical instrument for
determining by the ear the rhythm of the pulse of a person at a distance.
Sphygmoscope
(Sphyg"mo*scope) n. [Gr. the pulse + -scope.] (Physiol.) Same as Sphygmograph.
Sphyrænoid
(Sphy*ræ"noid) a.[L. sphyraena a kind of sea fish (Gr. sfy`raina) + - oid.] (Zoöl.) Of or pertaining
to the Sphyrænidæ, a family of marine fishes including the barracudas.
