She can teach ye how to climb Higher than the sphery chime.
Milton.
Sphex (?), n.[NL., fr. Gr. &?;&?;&?;, &?;&?;&?;, a wasp.] (Zoöl.) Any
one of numerous species of sand wasps of the genus Sphex and allied
genera. These wasps have the abdomen attached to the thorax by a
slender pedicel. See Illust. of Sand wasp, under Sand.
Sphex fly (Zoöl.), any one of numerous species of small dipterous flies
of the genus Conops and allied genera. The form of the body is similar
to that of a sphex.
Sphig*mom"e*ter (?), n. See Sphygmometer.
Sphinc"ter (?), n. [NL., fr. &?;&?;&?; to bind tight.] (Anat.) A muscle
which surrounds, and by its contraction tends to close, a natural
opening; as, the sphincter of the bladder.
Sphinc"ter, a. (Anat.) Of, pertaining to, or designating, a sphincter;
as, a sphincter muscle.
Sphin"gid (?), n. (Zoöl.) A sphinx.
Sphin"gid, a. Of or pertaining to a sphinx, or the family Sphingidæ.
Sphinx (?), n. [L., from Gr. sfi`gx, usually derived from sfi`ggein to
bind tight or together, as if the Throttler.] 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 Œdipus, 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.