gorgon
/ˈɡɔːrɡən/ noun, adjective, proper noun
Forms gorgons
- noun (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
- noun An intimidating, ugly, or disgusting woman; anything hideous or horrid.
- adjective Like a gorgon; very ugly or terrifying.
- proper noun (obsolete) Synonym of Demogorgon (“a pagan god or demon”).
Synonyms
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.
Webster’s 1913
- noun One of three fabled sisters, Stheno, Euryale, and Medusa, with snaky hair and of terrific aspect, the sight of whom turned the beholder to stone. The name is particularly given to Medusa.
- noun Anything very ugly or horrid. Milton.
- adjective Like a Gorgon; very ugly or terrific; as, a Gorgon face.
Sources: Wiktionary · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “gorgon”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details