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OP News to me that it comes from Greek verb meaning to strangle. The circular muscle so
socially indispensible at external lower termination of intestinal tract is called a
sphincter. So the Sphinx was said to kill victims by strangulation.
"sphinx - c.1421, from L. Sphinx, from Gk. Sphinx, lit." the
strangler," a back-formation from sphingein "to squeeze,
bind." Monster, having a lion's (winged) body and a
woman's head, that waylaid travellers around Thebes and
devoured those who could not answer its questions; slain by
Oedipus. The proper plural would be sphinges. "
Entire Thread Subject Posted By Posted sphinx wwh 11/03/02 04:06 PM Re: sphinx Wordwind 11/03/02 11:24 PM Re: sphinx ElizaD 01/31/04 08:47 PM Re: sphinx wwh 01/31/04 09:35 PM Re: sphinx Bingley 02/04/04 07:54 AM Re: sphinx wwh 02/04/04 03:08 PM Re: sphinx Faldage 02/02/04 01:41 PM Re: sphinx wwh 02/02/04 01:45 PM
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