sphinxlike

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   mysterious, enigmatic, or difficult to interpret, especially through an unreadable expression or manner

   Her sphinxlike expression gave no hint of whether she approved.

2. 2
   adj

   resembling a sphinx in appearance, posture, or monumental stillness

   The carved figure sat sphinxlike at the entrance to the tomb.

Formed from sphinx + -like. The mythical Sphinx was associated with riddles and secrecy, so the compound came to describe an unreadable face or enigmatic manner as well as a literal resemblance. Sphynx-like is a dated spelling and hyphenation.

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