Wiktionary

gorgon

See also: Gorgon, Gorgoń, Gorgón, and gorĝon

English

edit
 
English Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia

Etymology

edit

From Middle English gorgon, from Latin Gorgō, from Ancient Greek Γοργώ (Gorgṓ), from γοργός (gorgós, “terrible”). Possibly from the same root as the Sanskrit word "garğ" (गर्जन), which is defined as a guttural sound, similar to the growling of a beast, thus possibly originating as an onomatopoeia.[1]

Pronunciation

edit
  • IPA(key): /ˈɡɔːrɡən/
  • Audio (Southern England):(file)
  • Hyphenation: gor‧gon

Noun

edit

gorgon (plural gorgons)

  1. (Greek mythology) A vicious female monster from Greek mythology with sharp fangs and hair of living, venomous snakes. One of the three sisters: Medusa, Stheno and Euryale
  2. An intimidating, ugly, or disgusting woman; anything hideous or horrid.
    • 1670, John Dryden, The Conquest of Granada:
      I'll shrowd this Gorgon from all humane view.
    • 2005 July 1, Washington Post:
      Swilling martinis and spewing venom, Phyllis is a particularly unappetizing gorgon, telling us at one point that an acquaintance of hers is aroused by the Heimlich maneuver.

Translations

edit

Adjective

edit

gorgon (not comparable)

  1. Like a gorgon; very ugly or terrifying.

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ Feldman, Thalia. "Gorgo and the Origins of Fear." Arion 4.3 (1965): 484–494. Print.
  • Chambers's Etymological Dictionary, 1896, p. 208

Middle English

edit

Alternative forms

edit

Etymology

edit

Borrowed from Latin Gorgō, from Ancient Greek Γοργώ (Gorgṓ).

Pronunciation

edit
  • IPA(key): /ɡɔrˈɡoːn/, /ˈɡɔrɡɔn/

Noun

edit

gorgon (plural gorgones)

  1. (rare) gorgon

Descendants

edit
  • English: gorgon (obsolete)

References

edit
Retrieved from "https://en.wiktionary.org/w/index.php?title=gorgon&oldid=79588759"