gorgon English · revision 1527

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1398}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈɡɔːrɡən/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la|Gorgō]], genitive [[m|la|Gorgonis]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate) from [[grc|Γοργώ|tr=Gorgṓ]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from [[m|grc|γοργός|tr=gorgós|t=grim, fierce, terrible]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) a word of unknown origin.^(Etymonline) Partridge compares [[sga|garg|t=wild, fierce]] and [[xcl|կարծր|tr=karcr|t=hard]],^(Partridge 1966) connections that Beekes's sources reject.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ In Greek myth, one of three sisters with snakes for hair, whose look turned the beholder to stone (1398 in the OED; before 1398 in Barnhart; late 14th century in Etymonline).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The three Gorgons were Stheno, Euryale and the mortal Medusa,^(AHD)^(Collins 2023) whom Perseus beheaded;^(RHWU) the Gorgon's head appeared on Athena's shield.^(Weekley 1921) By transfer, ''gorgon'' meant a very terrible or ugly person, especially a repulsive woman (before 1529).^(OED 1989)^(Hoad 1986) In the 17th century it was also used of a petrifying influence (1646)^(OED 1989) and of an African animal, perhaps the gnu (1607).^(OED 1989) Tennyson's ''gorgonize'', to petrify, comes from the same name.^(Weekley 1921)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1398 – one of the mythical sisters.^(OED 1989)

+ * before 1529 – a terrible or ugly person.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1575 – attributive, petrifying.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1646 – a petrifying influence (obsolete).^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(Greek mythology)'' Any of three sisters, Stheno, Euryale and the mortal [[Medusa]], who had snakes for hair and eyes that turned anyone who looked into them to stone; usually capitalized.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A woman regarded as ugly, repulsive or terrifying.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[Gorgonian]]

+ * [[gorgonize]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[Medusa]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}