11 May 2017
Gordian
[gawr-dee-uh n]
adjective
1. pertaining to Gordius, ancient king of Phrygia, who tied a knot (the Gordian knot) that, according to prophecy, was to be undone only by the person who was to rule Asia, and that was cut, rather than untied, by Alexander the Great.
2. resembling the Gordian knot in intricacy.
Idioms
3. cut the Gordian knot, to act quickly and decisively in a difficult situation; solve a problem boldly.
Origin of Gordian
Latin Greek
1555-1565; Latin Gordi(us) (Greek Górdios Gordius) + -an
Dictionary.com
Examples from the Web for Gordian
Contemporary Examples
Berlusconi, it is true, did not cut this Gordian knot, but neither did he tie it in the first place.
Berlusconi Exits, and an Era of Sexist Buffoonery Is Over
Lawrence Osborne
November 16, 2011
Of course, if we can mix our classical references, Russia has its Sword of Damocles to cut this Gordian Knot.
Ravenous Russia? Thirsty Crimea.
Oleg Shynkarenko, Will Cathcart
May 3, 2014
Entwined within this Gordian knot is a truth so terrible as to be rarely spoken.
Obama’s Historic Mideast Gamble
Leslie H. Gelb
May 20, 2011
Historical Examples
It was she who invented the short cut, who severed the Gordian knot.
The Aspern Papers
Henry James
“I have something to tell you,” he says, cutting the Gordian knot at a clean stroke.
Floyd Grandon’s Honor
Amanda Minnie Douglas
The Bishop cut the Gordian knot for her by ordering all seculars to be turned out of the dorter.
Medieval English Nunneries c. 1275 to 1535
Eileen Edna Power
“Well, I have cut the Gordian knot,” 262 continued Marmaduke.
Ladies-In-Waiting
Kate Douglas Wiggin
But Washington did not hesitate a moment to cut this Gordian knot.
Who was the Commander at Bunker Hill?
Samuel Swett
One or several must act as did Alexander the Great when he cut the Gordian knot.
Peking Dust
Ellen N. La Motte
What a deliverer was therefore the stern Crete-bound veteran, who cut the Gordian knot of enchantment with, “Pack and begone.”
From the Oak to the Olive
Julia Ward Howe
Anagram
I Dragon
Rain God
iron dag
ion drag
Today’s quote
Those who do not want to imitate anything, produce nothing.
– Salvador Dali
On this day
11 May – World Keffiyeh Day, in solidarity with Palestine.
11 May 1904 – birth of Salvador Dali, Spanish surrealist painter. Died 23 January 1989.
11 May 1981 – death of Bob Marley, Jamaican reggae singer and musician. Born 6 February 1945.
11 May 1985 – death of Chester Gould, American creator of the cartoon strip, ‘Dick Tracy’. He drew the comic strip from 1931 to 1977. Born 20 November 1900.