gorgon

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“
Many a thing besides light-hearted gaieties happened in carnival season He became aware that a friendly person had come up, was with him beating off raven, gorgon, and satyr.

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Definitions (9)

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  1. [capitalized] In Greek myth, a female monster, one of three sisters, Stheno, Euryale, and Medusa, whose heads were covered with writhing serpents instead of hair, and the sight of whose terrific aspect turned the beholder to stone. Only Medusa was mortal, and she alone is meant when the Gorgon is mentioned singly. What new Gorgon's head Have you beheld, that you are all turn'd statues? Fletcher (and another), Queen of Corinth, v. 2. Worse Than fables yet have feign'd, or fear conceived, Gorgons, and hydras, and chimæras dire. Milton, P. L., ii. 628. Here was the retreat of the Gorgon, with snaky tresses, turning all she looked upon into stone. Sumner, White Slavery.
  2. The head of Medusa, after she was killed by Perseus, placed on the shield of Pallas, and, according to the legend, still capable of petrifying beholders; hence, a representation of Medusa's head; a gorgoneion. What was that snaky-headed Gorgon shield, That wise Minerva wore? Milton, Comus, l. 447. As if the dire goddess that presides over it [war], with her murderous spear in her hand and her gorgon at her breast, was a coquette to be flirted with. Burke, A Regicide Peace.
  3. Something very ugly; specifically, a woman of repulsive appearance or manners. I really came here to buy up all your stock; but that gorgon, Lady de Courcy, captured me, and my ransom has sent me here free, but a beggar. Disraeli, Young Duke, i. 2.
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Examples (48)

  • The Gorgon was in the kitchen making gorgon-zola cheese by staring at milk through her veil. —  Question Quest
  • You want me to ask Fox if that's okay The child stared at her as if she were a gorgon, then took to his heels and belted it out of the bus Mark lowered his head into his hands and massaged his tired eyes. —  Fox Evil
  • So for years she had innocently lured in males-for the gorgon to turn to stone. —  The Source of Magic
  • He felt tempted to rip off the blindfold, turn about, and look at the gorgon -but not strongly tempted. —  The Source of Magic
  • He wondered what it would be like to kiss the gorgon, with those snake-hairs twining around their two faces. —  The Source of Magic
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Etymologies (1)

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  1. from Latin Gorgona, Gorgo(n-), from Greek Γοργώ, from γοργός, grim, fierce, terrible.
 

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