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Webster 1913 Edition

Phalanx

Pha′lanx

,
Noun.
;
pl.
Phalanxes
(#)
, L.
Phalanges
(#)
.
[L., from Gr.
φάλαγξ
.]
1.
(Gr. Antiq.)
A body of heavy-armed infantry formed in ranks and files close and deep. There were several different arrangements, the phalanx varying in depth from four to twenty-five or more ranks of men.
“In cubic phalanx firm advanced.”
Milton.
The Grecian
phalanx
, moveless as a tower.
Pope.
2.
Any body of troops or men formed in close array, or any combination of people distinguished for firmness and solidity of a union.
At present they formed a united
phalanx
.
Macaulay.
The sheep recumbent, and the sheep that grazed,
All huddling into
phalanx
, stood and gazed.
Cowper.
3.
A Fourierite community; a phalanstery.
4.
(Anat.)
One of the digital bones of the hand or foot, beyond the metacarpus or metatarsus; an internode.
5.
[
pl
.
Phalanges
.]
(Bot.)
A group or bundle of stamens, as in polyadelphous flowers.

Webster 1828 Edition

Phalanx

PHAL'ANX

,
Noun.
In Grecian antiquity, a square battalion or body of soldiers, formed in ranks and files close and deep, with their shields joined and pikes crossing each other, so as to render it almost impossible to break it. The Macedonian phalanx, celebrated for its force, consisted of 8000 men; but smaller bodies of soldiers were called by the same name.
1.
Any body of troops or men formed in close array, or any combination of people distinguished for firmness and solidity of union.
2.
In anatomy, the three rows of small bones forming the fingers.
3.
In natural history, a term used to express the arrangement of the columns of a sort of fossil corolloid, called lithostrotion, found in Wales.

Definition 2024

Phalanx

Phalanx

See also: phalanx

English

Proper noun

Phalanx

  1. The brand name of a radar-controlled rapid fire 20mm Gatling-type machine gun, the Phalanx CIWS (pronounced see-wiz), deployed on U.S. Navy ships as a last line of defense against antiship cruise missiles.

See also

phalanx

phalanx

See also: Phalanx

English

An Ancient Macedonian phalanx
Bones of the hand: carpals, metacarpals and phalanges

Noun

phalanx ‎(plural phalanxes or phalanges)

  1. (historical, plural phalanxes) An ancient Greek and Macedonian military unit that consisted of several ranks and files (lines) of soldiers in close array with joined shields and long spears.
  2. (historical sociology) A Fourierite utopian community; a phalanstery.
  3. (plural phalanxes) A large group of people, animals or things, compact or closely massed, or tightly knit and united in common purpose.
    • 2007 April 25, Hélène Mulholland, “Blair refuses to condemn FoI bill”, in The Guardian, London, archived from the original on 3 October 2014:
      The Guardian today listed a phalanx of ministers who back the bill, including Tessa Jowell, the culture secretary, Tony McNulty, the policing minister, Andy Burnham, the junior health minister, Ian Pearson, the climate change minister, John Healey, the financial secretary to the Treasury, and Keith Hill, parliamentary private secretary to Tony Blair.
    • 2007 May 6, Sean O'Hagan, “The day I thought would never come: This week, Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness will astonish those who experienced the Troubles”, in The Guardian, London, archived from the original on 3 October 2014:
      There, the Paisleyites were being held back by another phalanx of soldiers and policemen.
  4. (anatomy, plural phalanges) One of the bones of the finger or toe.

Synonyms

  • (anatomy, bone of the finger or toe): phalange

Hyponyms

  • (bone of the finger): distal phalanx, intermediate phalanx, proximal phalanx

Translations

Latin

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Ancient Greek φάλαγξ ‎(phálanx). Compare Latin phalanga.

Pronunciation

  • (Classical) IPA(key): /ˈpʰa.lanks/, [ˈpʰa.ɫaŋks]

Noun

phalanx f ‎(genitive phalangis); third declension

  1. phalanx, battalion

Inflection

Third declension.

Case Singular Plural
nominative phalanx phalangēs
genitive phalangis phalangum
dative phalangī phalangibus
accusative phalangem phalangēs
ablative phalange phalangibus
vocative phalanx phalangēs

References

  • phalanx in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  • phalanx in Charlton T. Lewis (1891) An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers
  • Félix Gaffiot (1934), “phalanx”, in Dictionnaire Illustré Latin-Français, Paris: Hachette.
  • Meissner, Carl; Auden, Henry William (1894) Latin Phrase-Book, London: Macmillan and Co.
    • to form a phalanx: phalangem facere (B. G. 1. 24)
    • to break through the phalanx: phalangem perfringere
  • phalanx in Harry Thurston Peck, editor (1898) Harper's Dictionary of Classical Antiquities, New York: Harper & Brothers
  • phalanx in William Smith et al., editor (1890) A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities, London: William Wayte. G. E. Marindin

Etymology

From Ancient Greek φάλαγξ ‎(phálanx, “battle order, array”).

Pronunciation

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