Definitions for gordian knot
ˈgɔr di əngor·dian knot

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Gordian knotnoun

   any very difficult problem; insoluble in its own terms

2. Gordian knotnoun

   an intricate knot tied by Gordius, the king of Phrygia, and cut by the sword of Alexander the Great after he heard that whoever undid it would become ruler of Asia

WiktionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Gordian knotnoun

   The legendary knot tied to a pole near the temple of Zeus in Gordium.

2. Gordian knotnoun

   Any intricate and complex problem.

3. Etymology: From the name of a legendary knot tied to a pole near the temple of Zeus in Gordium. It was prophesied that whoever loosed the knot would become ruler of all Asia. Alexander the Great solved the puzzle by slicing through the knot and took it as a sign of Zeus's favor. He then proceeded to conquer much of the known world.

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Gordian Knot

   The Gordian Knot is an Ancient Greek legend of Phrygian Gordium associated with Alexander the Great who is said to have cut the knot in 333 BC. It is often used as a metaphor for an intractable problem (untying an impossibly tangled knot) solved easily by finding an approach to the problem that renders the perceived constraints of the problem moot ("cutting the Gordian knot"):

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. gordian knot

   A Gordian Knot is a phrase used to describe a problem that is exceptionally difficult or unsolvable; an intricate, complex, or unsolvable problem. It originates from the legend of Gordius, king of Phrygia, who tied an extremely complex knot and declared that whoever could untie it would become the ruler of Asia. Alexander the Great cut it with his sword in a metaphorical solution to the problem.

WikidataRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Gordian Knot

   The Gordian Knot is a legend of Phrygian Gordium associated with Alexander the Great. It is often used as a metaphor for an intractable problem solved easily by cheating or "thinking outside the box": "Turn him to any cause of policy, The Gordian Knot of it he will unloose, Familiar as his garter"

The Nuttall EncyclopediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Gordian Knot

   a knot by which the yoke was fastened to the beam of the chariot of Gordius (q. v.), and which no one could untie except the man who was destined to be the conqueror of Asia; Alexander the Great being ambitious to achieve this feat, tried hard to undo it, but failing, cut it with his sword and marched on to conquest.

Military Dictionary and GazetteerRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. gordian knot

   It is said to have been made of the thongs that served as harness to the wagon of Gordius, a husbandman, afterwards king of Phrygia. Whosoever loosed this knot, the ends of which were not discoverable, the oracle declared should be ruler of Persia. Alexander the Great cut away the knot with his sword until he found the ends of it, and thus, in a military sense at least, interpreted the oracle, 330 B.C.

Matched Categories

1. • Knot
   • Problem

How to pronounce gordian knot?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say gordian knot in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of gordian knot in Chaldean Numerology is: 5

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of gordian knot in Pythagorean Numerology is: 2

Examples of gordian knot in a Sentence

1. Megan Greene:

   Syriza and its creditors are stuck in a Gordian Knot, and both sides will need to cave on something. Neither Greece Greece nor Greece Greece creditors want Greece Greece to default or exit the eurozone, so a compromise will probably be found.

2. Gero Neugebauer:

   It is now up to Merkel to cut the Gordian knot and give a clear signal internally and externally that Germany cannot take in refugees without limits, and that she is still the mistress of the house.

3. Alexis Tsipras:

   At some point, we have to decide to cut the Gordian Knot, take collective action, and ignore the political consequences.

References

1. ^ Princeton's WordNet
   http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=gordian knot
2. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Gordian_Knot
3. ^ Wikipedia
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gordian_Knot
4. ^ ChatGPT
   https://chat.openai.com
5. ^ Wikidata
   https://www.wikidata.org/w/index.php?search=gordian knot
6. ^ The Nuttall Encyclopedia
   https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/12342/pg12342-images.html#GordianKnot
7. ^ Military Dictionary and Gazetteer
   https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/59563/pg59563-images.html