Labyrinth

Definitions: Labyrinth

Labyrinth

Noun

1. Complex system of paths or tunnels in which it is easy to get lost.

2. A complex system of interconnecting cavities; concerned with hearing and equilibrium.

Date "labyrinth" was first used in popular English literature: sometime before 1350. (references)

Etymology: Labyrinth \Lab"y*rinth\, noun. [Latin expression labyrinthus, Greek laby`rinthos: compare to the French expression labyrinthe.]. (Websters 1913)

Specialty Definitions: Labyrinth

Domain	Definitions
Dream Interpretation	If you dream of a labyrinth, you will find yourself entangled in intricate and perplexing business conditions, and your wife will make the home environment intolerable; children and sweethearts will prove ill-tempered and unattractive. If you are in a labyrinth of night or darkness, it foretells passing, but agonizing sickness and trouble. A labyrinth of green vines and timbers, denotes unexpected happiness from what was seemingly a cause for loss and despair. In a network, or labyrinth of railroads, assures you of long and tedious journeys. Interesting people will be met, but no financial success will aid you on these journeys. Source: Ten Thousand Dreams Interpreted ....
Health	The internal ear; the essential part of the organ of hearing. It consists of an osseous and a membranous portion. (references)
Literature	Labyrinth A mass of buildings or garden - walks, so complicated as to puzzle strangers to extricate themselves. Said to be so called from Labyris, an Egyptian monarch of the 12th dynasty. The chief labyrinths are:- (1) The Egyptian, by Petesuchis or Tithoes, near the Lake Moeris. It had 3,000 apartments, half of which were underground. (B.C. 1800.) Pliny, xxxvi. 13; and Pomponius Mela, i. 9. (2) The Cretan, by Dæ'dalos, for imprisoning the Minotaur. The only means of finding a way out of it was by help of a skein of thread. (See Virgil: Æneid, v.) (3) The Cretan conduit, which had 1,000 branches or turnings. (4) The Lemnian, by the architects Zmilus, Rholus, and Theodorus. It had 150 columns, so nicely adjusted that a child could turn them. Vestiges of this labyrinth were still in existence in the time of Pliny. (5) The labyrinth of Clusium, made by Lars Porsena, King of Etruria, for his tomb. (6) The Samian, by Theodorus (B.C. 540). Referred to by Pliny; by Herodotos, ii. 145; by Strabo, x.; and by Diodorus Siculus, i. (7) The labyrinth at Woodstock, by Henry II., for the Fair Rosamond. (8) Of mazes formed by hedges. The best known is that of Hampton Court. Source: Brewer's Dictionary.
Medicine	A system of intercommunicating cavities or canals, especially that constituting the internal ear(semicircular canals, vestibule and cochlea). Source: European Union. (references)
Mining	A. A series of canals through which a stream of water is directed for sorting crushed ore according to its specific gravity b. A pipe or chamber of many turnings, for condensing metal vapors orfumes. (references)
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

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Specialty Definition: Labyrinth

(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)

See also labyrinth (inner ear). or Labyrinth (movie)

In Greek mythology, the Labyrinth was an elaborate maze constructed for King Minos of Crete and designed by the legendary artificer Daedalus to hold the Minotaur, a creature that was half human and half bull, eventually killed by Theseus. The 'Minoan' dynasty of King Minos was called "the house of the double axe"; labrys is Greek for "double axe", but labyrinth is one of a small number of pre-greek words absorbed by classical Greek. Though no site in Crete has been positively identified as the Minotaur's Labyrinth, we do find 3rd century BC coins, from Knossos in Crete, imprinted with the labyrinth symbol. The predominant labyrinth form during this period is the simple 7-circuit style known as the classical.

The term labyrinth has come to be applied to any unicursal maze of a particular circular shape. The principal two designs are the classical (illustrated below) and the medieval; although there are numerous variations, the basic shape is easily discerned. The term is often used interchangeably with maze, but a maze is a puzzle, with choices of path and direction while a unicursal labyrinth has only a single path to the centre.

The oldest known examples of the labyrinth design are small simple petroglyphs (stone carvings) perhaps dating back 3000 years. These labyrinthine petroglyphs are found in numerous places across the world, from Syria to Ireland.

In Roman mosaics the simple classical labyrinth is transformed into the meander border pattern, squared off as the art medium requires, but still recognisable. Often an image of a bull-man, a minotaur, appears in the centre of these mosaic labyrinths. Roman meander patterns gradually developed in complexity towards the four-fold shape that is now familiarly known as the medieval form.

The full flowering of the medieval labyrinth design came about during the twelfth and thirteenth centuries with the grand pavement labyrinths of the gothic cathedrals, most notably Chartres and Amiens in Northern France. It is this version of the design that is thought to be the inspiration for the many secular turf labyrinths in the UK, such as Wing in Rutland, Hilton in Cambridgeshire, and Saffron Walden in Essex.

Over the same period some 500 or more non-ecclesiastical labyrinths were constructed in Scandinavia. These labyrinths, generally in coastal areas, are marked out with stones most often in the simple classical form. They are thought to have been constructed by early fishing communities, to trap malevolent trolls/winds in the labyrinth's coils in order to ensure a safe fishing expedition. There are also stone labyrinths on the Isles of Scilly, although none of them are known to date back as far as the Scandinavian ones.

There are remarkable examples of the labyrinth shape from a whole range of ancient and disparate cultures. The symbol has appeared in all forms and media (petroglyphs, classic-form, medieval-form, pavement, turf and basketry) at some time, throughout most parts of the world, from Java, Native North and South America, Australia, India and Nepal.

In recent years, there has been a resurgence of interest in the labyrinth symbol, which has inspired a revival in labyrinth building notably at Willen Park, Milton Keynes; Grace Cathedral, San Francisco; and Tapton Park, Chesterfield.

Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "Labyrinth."

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Synonyms: Labyrinth

Synonyms: inner ear (n), internal ear (n), maze (n). (additional references)

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Synonyms within Context: Labyrinth

Context	Synonyms within Context (source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus).
Complexity	Noun: complexity; complexness; Adjective: complexus; complication, implication; intricacy, intrication; perplexity; network, labyrinth; wilderness, jungle; involution, raveling, entanglement; coil; (convolution); sleave, tangled skein, knot, Gordian knot, wheels within wheels; kink, gnarl, knarl; webwork.
Convolution	Serpent, eel, maze, labyrinth.
	Involved, intricate, complicated, perplexed; labyrinth, labyrinthic, labyrinthian, labyrinthine; peristaltic; daedalian; kinky, knotted.
Secret	Maze, labyrinth, Hyrcynian wood; intricacy, meander.
Source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus.

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Crosswords: Labyrinth

English words defined with "labyrinth": Ariadne, artery of the labyrinth ♦ bony labyrinth, Byzantine ♦ convoluted ♦ Daedalus ♦ endolymph ♦ internal auditory artery, intricate, involved ♦ knotty ♦ Labyrinthal, labyrinthian, Labyrinthical, Labyrinthiform, labyrinthine, labyrinthine artery ♦ mazy, membranous labyrinth, Minos, Mizmaze ♦ osseous labyrinth, otosclerosis ♦ perilymph ♦ saccule, sacculus ♦ tangled, tortuous ♦ vestibule of the ear. (references)

Specialty definitions using "labyrinth": aural nystagmus ♦ Daedalos, doorless labyrinth ♦ Endolymphatic Duct, Endolymphatic Shunt, excess letdown heat exchanger ♦ Karoon ♦ Labyrinth Supporting Cells, labyrinthine nystagmus ♦ Musits ♦ perilymphatic spaces ♦ Vestibular Neuronitis, vestibular vertigo. (references)

Etymologies containing "labyrinth": Labyrinthibranch, Labyrinthici, Labyrinthodon. (references)

Non-English Usage: "Labyrinth" is also a word in the following language with English translations in parentheses.

German (labyrinth, maze, rabbit warren).

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Modern Usage: Labyrinth

Domain	Usage
Screenplays	You don't by any chance know the way through this labyrinth, do you? (Labyrinth; writing credit: Dennis Lee; Jim Henson)
Movie/TV Titles	Labyrinth (1959) The Labyrinth (1915) Simones Labyrinth (2003) En no labyrinth (2000) Tatort - Tödliches Labyrinth (1999)
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

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Commercial Usage: Labyrinth

Domain	Title
Books	Arabia, a Journey Through the Labyrinth (reference) Stones of Aran: Labyrinth (reference) Torn Wings and Faux Pas: A Flashbook of Style, a Beastly Guide Through the Writer's Labyrinth (reference) The private labyrinth of Malcolm Lowry: Under the volcano, and the Cabbala (reference) The Labyrinth and the Enneagram: Circling into Prayer (reference) (more book examples)

Theater & Movies	Labyrinth (reference) Labyrinth of Flames (reference) Sailor Moon S - Labyrinth (Vol. 3, TV Version) (reference) (more DVD examples; more video examples)

Music	Agricola: A Secret Labyrinth (reference) Labyrinth (reference) Into the Labyrinth (reference) (more classical music examples; more popular music examples)

High Tech	Fatal Labyrinth (reference) Sonic Labyrinth (reference) (more camera examples; more video game examples; more computer examples; more electronic examples; more software examples)
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

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Image Slideshow: Labyrinth

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Photo Album: Labyrinth

Thumbnail	Description & Credit	Thumbnail	Description & Credit
	The Parana River delta is a huge forested marshland about 32km northeast of Buenos Aires, Argentina. The area is a very popular tour destination. Guided boat tours can be taken into this vast labyrinth of marsh and trees. The Parana River delta is one of the world's greatest bird-watching destinations. This image highlights the striking contrast between dense forest and wetland marshes, and the deep blue ribbon of the Parana River.Credit: NASA.		Misty morning in Southeast Alaska labyrinth.Credit: Paths Less Taken - NOAA at the Ends of the Earth.
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

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Familiar Quotations: Labyrinth

Author	Quotation
Joseph Joubert	They are like the clue in the labyrinth, or the compass in the night.
Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

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Use in Literature: Labyrinth

Title	Author	Quote
Les Miserables	Hugo, Victor	He crossed the little river Crinchon, and found himself in a labyrinth of narrow streets, where he was soon lost.
Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

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Non-Fiction Usage: Labyrinth

Subject	Topic	Quote
Health		Peripheral vestibular disorder, a disturbance in the labyrinth. (references)
		An organ in our inner ear, the labyrinth, is an important part of our vestibular (balance) system. (references)
		They are also studying how fluid composition and movement in the labyrinth affect hearing and balance. (references)
Economic History	Chile	The southern coast is a labyrinth of fjords, inlets, canals, twisting peninsulas, and islands. (references)
Source: compiled by the editor from ICON Group International, Inc.; see credits.

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Usage Frequency: Labyrinth

"Labyrinth" is generally used as a noun (singular) -- approximately 91.94% of the time. "Labyrinth" is used about 186 times out of a sample of 100 million words spoken or written in English. Its rank is based on over 700,000 words used in the English language. Some parts-of-speech are not covered due to the samples used by the British National Corpus. (note: percents less than one-hundredth of one percent have been omitted)

Parts of Speech	Percent	Usage per 100 Million Words	Rank in English
Noun (singular)	91.94%	171	23,814
Noun (proper)	8.06%	15	90,616
Total	100.00%	186	N/A

Source: compiled by the editor from several corpora; see credits.

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Expression: Labyrinth

Expressions using "labyrinth": artery of the labyrinth ♦ bony labyrinth ♦ doorless labyrinth ♦ Labyrinth Supporting Cells ♦ membranous labyrinth ♦ osseous labyrinth. Additional references.
Hyphenated Usage
	Beginning with "labyrinth": labyrinth-like, labyrinth-ridged.
	Ending with "labyrinth": Flux-labyrinth.
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

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Frequency of Internet Keywords: Labyrinth

The following statistics estimate the number of searches per day across the major English-language search engines as identified by various trade publications. Hyperlinks lead to commercial use of the expression at Amazon.com.

Expression	Frequency per Day
labyrinth	1,158
labyrinth movie	123
labyrinth david bowie	34
fan fiction labyrinth	33
labyrinth book	29
labyrinth picture	29
labyrinth lyrics	27
labyrinth seal	20
labyrinth of nightmare	20
labyrinth soundtrack	20
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

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Modern Translations: Labyrinth

Language		Translations for "labyrinth"; alternative meanings/domain in parentheses.
Albanian		labirint (maze, Warren, wilderness), veshi i brendshëm, gjendje fort e ngatërruar. (various references)

Arabic		‏متاهة (maze), ‏مشكلة (issue, kink, nodus, nut, problem, question, snag, trouble, twister), ‏تيه (arrogance, pride, swagger, vainglory), ‏تجويف الأذن. (various references)

Basque		laberinto (maze). (various references)

Bulgarian		лабиринт (intricacy, maze, meander, plexus, rabbit warren). (various references)

Chinese		迷宫 (labyrinthine, maze). (various references)

Czech		labyrint (Warren), bludištì (maze). (various references)

Danish		labyrinten. (various references)

Dutch		labyrint (maze). (various references)

Faeroese		villiniborg (maze), hurlivasi (maze). (various references)

Farsi		پیچیدگی(مج.), پلکان مارپیچ (Maze), ماز, چیزبغرنج , لابیرنت , شکنج , دخمه پرپیچ وخم . (various references)

Finnish		labyrintti (maze), sokkelo (maze). (various references)

French		labyrinthe (labyrinth packing seal, labyrinth ring, labyrinth seal). (various references)

Frisian		doalhôf (maze). (various references)

German		Labyrinth (inner ear, internal ear, maze, rabbit warren). (various references)

Greek		λαβύρινθοσ (maze). (various references)

Hebrew		מבוך (maze), לבירי� ט, עקלתון (crooked, curved, serpentine, tortuous). (various references)

Hungarian		labirintus (maze, meanders), útvesztő (maze, turnings and twistings). (various references)

Italian		labirinto (labyrinth seal, maze). (various references)

Japanese Kanji		迷路 (blind alley, maze), 迷宮 (maze, mystery), ラテン語 (Latin, Latvia, lavatory, lover, radical, radical realism, radish, radon, rapid fire, ravioli, rough, rubber, rubber cement, rubber racket, rubber silk, rubber sole, rubber tile), 八幡知らず (maze), 八幡の薮知らず (maze). (various references)

Japanese Katakana		ラ�"リンス , めいきゅう (maze, mystery), めいろ (blind alley, facial expression, maze), やわたしらず (maze), やわたのやぶしらず (maze). (various references)

Korean		미궁. (various references)

Occitan		laberint (maze). (various references)

Papiamen		labirinto (maze). (various references)

Pig Latin		abyrinthlay.(various references)

Portuguese		laburno, labirinto (labyrinth packing seal, labyrinth seal, maze), confusão (abashment, baffle, bedlam, bother, bungle, clutter, confounding, confusion, daze, disarray, discomfort, discomposure, disturbed, Donnybrook, embroilment, entanglement, fog, foul up, fuddle, hash, hodge-podge, hotchpotch, hubbub, huddle, hugger mugger, hurry, hurry-scurry, imbrue, intricate, involution, involvement, jumble, kettledrum, macaronic, maze, medley, mess, mind-breaker, mingle-mangle, mishmash, misrule, mix, mix up, moil, muddle, Mull, muss, olio, pandemonium, pell mell, perplexity, perturbation, pother, puddle, puzzle, Ravel, rough and tumble, rout, shuffle, situation whereby one and the same person unites two capacities for example debtor-creditor, skein, to-do, tumble, turbidity, turmoil). (various references)

Romanian		labirint (maze). (various references)

Russian		лабиринт (maze, nest). (various references)

Serbo-Croatian		labirint. (various references)

Spanish		laberinto (leak, maze). (various references)

Swedish		labyrint (maze). (various references)

Thai		เขาวงกต, หูชั้นใน, ความยุ่งยาก (hassle, hot water, stickler). (various references)

Turkish		labirent (maze, meander), içkulak boşluğu (utricle), içinden çıkılmaz durum. (various references)

Ukranian		лабіринт (maze). (various references)

Vietnamese		tai trong. (various references)
Source: compiled by the editor from various translation references.

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Derivations & Misspellings: Labyrinth

Derivations
	Words beginning with "labyrinth": labyrinthian, labyrinthine, labyrinthodont, labyrinthodonts, labyrinths. (additional references)
Misspellings
	"Labyrinth" is suggested in spellcheckers for the following: labarinth, laberinth, labirynth, labrinth, labryinth, labrynith, labyirnth, labylinth, labyranth, labyriath, labyrinthe, labyrith, labyrnth, labyrynth, laybrinth, lbyrinth, libyrinth. (additional references)
Source: compiled by the editor, based on several corpora (additional references).

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Rhyming with "Labyrinth"

# of Phoneme Matches	Pronunciation	Word(s) rhyming with "labyrinth" (pronounced la"beri'nth)
3	-i' n th	helminth, Hyacinth, jacinth, jacinthe.
Source: compiled by the editor (additional references); see credits.

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Anagrams: Labyrinth

Scrabble® Enable2K-Verified Anagrams
	Words within the letters "a-b-h-i-l-n-r-t-y"
	-2 letters: bairnly, inthral, riantly.
	-3 letters: artily, binary, brainy, hyalin, litany, ratlin, rhinal, thinly, tribal, trilby, trinal.
	-4 letters: airth, bairn, baith, banty, barny, bialy, binal, birth, blain, brail, brain, brant, briny, habit, hairy, hilar, inlay, laith, laity, lathi, lathy, libra, linty, lyart, rainy, rhyta, riant, riyal, thirl, trail, train, trial, yirth.
	-5 letters: ably, abri, airn, airt, airy, alit, anil, anti, aril, arty, aryl, ayin, baht, bail, bait, bani, barn, bath, bint, birl, blah, blat, blin, bran, brat, bray, brin, brit, byrl, hail, hair, halt, hant, harl, hart, hila, hilt, hint, hyla, inby, inly, lain, lair, lari, lath, lati, liar, lint, liny, lira, nail, nary, rail, rain, rani, rant, rath, rial, tahr, tail, tain, tali, tarn, than, thin, thir, tiny, tirl, tray, tyin, yarn.
	Words containing the letters "a-b-h-i-l-n-r-t-y"
	+1 letter: labyrinths.
	+3 letters: honorability, labyrinthian, labyrinthine, uncharitably.
	+5 letters: breathtakingly, inheritability, labyrinthodont.
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. SCRABBLE® is a registered trademark. All intellectual property rights in and to the game are owned in the U.S.A and Canada by Hasbro Inc., and throughout the rest of the world by J.W. Spear & Sons Limited of Maidenhead, Berkshire, England, a subsidiary of Mattel Inc. Mattel and Spear are not affiliated with Hasbro.