gorgon
/ˈɡɔːrɡən/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.62 in modern English
8
Scrabble Score
6
Letters
2
Syllables
4
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
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
noun
An intimidating, ugly, or disgusting woman; anything hideous or horrid.
adj
Like a gorgon; very ugly or terrifying.
Example Sentences
- "I'll shrowd this Gorgon from all humane view."
- "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."
- "Uillain I tel thee, were that Tamburlaine As monſtrous as Gorgon, prince of Hel, The Souldan would not ſtart a foot from him."
Etymology
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.
Origin
Word Breakdown
- Root: gorgon, Gorgō, Γοργώ