Definitions
Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
- n. A notable genus of large handsome digger-wasps, typical of the family Sphegidæ (or Sphecidæ or Sphexidæ). They abound in tropical regions, but some 12 species inhabit the United States. S. ichneumonea digs rapidly in hard ground, and provisions its cells with grasshoppers. About 100 species are known. See cut under
digger-wasp . - n. A wasp of this genus.
Wiktionary
- n. zoology Any of the sand wasps of Sphex and allied genera.
GNU Webster's 1913
- n. (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.
Etymologies
- From the Ancient Greek σφήξ (sphēx, "wasp"), pl.: σφῆκες. (Wiktionary)
Examples
“The canonical example of this sort of inflexible intelligence is the sphex wasp, a favorite of philosophers of mind.”
“I think one way for you to think about what ID needs to do is to think of a way to decide if something has flexible (human-like) or non-flexible (sphex-wasp-like) intelligence.”
“Since this is not possible in the context of ID, ID can never say if the "intelligence" responsible was the kind a sphex wasp has, or the kind a human has.”
“I even had dreams of sphex and kodiac bears fights to death.”
“In a certain way, the Riddley Scott's alien always remain me the sphex structure and killing ways.”
“Lieutenant Hutton has described a sphex with similar habits in India, in the Journal of the Asiatic Society, vol. i, p. 555. 19.”
“The music seemed to fascinate him, to paralyse his will, even as the sphex paralyses its victim with its sting.”
“The habits of the sphex surprise while bull fights disgust us.”
“Lieut. Hutton has described a sphex with similar habits in India, in the Journal of the Asiatic Society, vol.i. p. 555.”
“Cricket victim of paralyzing instinct of sphex, 172”
Lists
These user-created lists contain the word ‘sphex’.
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See cut under
A list of words with definitions directing us to "see cut under" (or "see cut at") another definition (with hilarity occasionally ensuing).
Compare compare-cut-under.spider, scorpion, spoonbill, spur, tooth, feather, gnat, beard, gyrate, astragal, jog, countercheck and 92 more...
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See Illust.
Being a list of words which have the phrase "See Illust." in their definitions.
siphon, pedestal, larch, grub, iris, thorax, ulula, vase, ynambu, fillet, siphonet, hood and 7 more...
Tweets
Looking for tweets for sphex.
ruzuzu I feel a compulsion to reply to the last two comments, but I don't know why. Also, see sphexish. Dec 5, 2012
bilby Wasp sheilas swoon over a slender pedicel, yanno. Dec 4, 2012
ry "handsome" digger wasps? Dec 4, 2012