Sphingine
/ˈsfɪn.dʒiːn/noun
Relating to or derived from sphinges, especially in reference to a type of moth or moth-like insect.
Did you know?Sphingine comes from the same ancient Greek root as Sphinx, the famous riddling creature, because sphinx moths were named for their uncanny, “mystical” look and posture.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
Σφίγξ (Sphíngx)
“the Sphinx, a mythic monster associated with riddles and destruction”
Late Latin
Latin
sphing-
“a learned stem taken from Greek for the Sphinx”
19th Century
English
sphingine
“pertaining to sphinxes or sphinx-like moths”
Modern English
English
sphingine
“relating to sphinges or used in zoological classification for sphinx moths”
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