Adjacent Words

Gorgon definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

GORG'ON, n. [Gr.] A fabled monster of terrific aspect, the sight of which turned the beholder to stone. The poets represent the Gorgons as three sisters, Stheno, Euryale and Medusa; but authors are not agreed in the description of them.
1. Any thing very ugly or horrid.
GORG'ON, a. Like a gorgon; very ugly or terrific; as a gorgon face.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: (Greek mythology) any of three winged sister monsters and the mortal Medusa who had live snakes for hair; a glance at Medusa turned the beholder to stone

Merriam Webster's

noun Etymology: Latin Gorgon-, Gorgo, from Greek Gorg?n Date: 14th century 1. capitalized any of three snake-haired sisters in Greek mythology whose appearance turns the beholder to stone 2. an ugly or repulsive woman • Gorgonian adjective

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. 1 (in Greek mythology) each of three snake-haired sisters (esp. Medusa) with the power to turn anyone who looked at them to stone. 2 a frightening or repulsive person, esp. a woman. Derivatives: gorgonian adj. Etymology: L Gorgo -onis f. Gk Gorgo f. gorgos terrible

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Gorgon Gor"gon (g[^o]r"g[o^]n), n. [L. Gorgo, -onis, Gr. Gorgw`, fr. gorgo`s terrible.] 1. (Gr. Myth.) 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. 2. Anything very ugly or horrid. --Milton. 3. (Zo["o]l.) The brindled gnu. See Gnu.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Gorgon Gor"gon, a. Like a Gorgon; very ugly or terrific; as, a Gorgon face. --Dryden.

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. n. Spectre, hobgoblin, ogre, fright, poker, bugaboo, hydra, frightful object. II. a. Gorgon-like, terrible, frightful, terrific, horrible, petrifying, paralyzing.