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Antonyms for phalanx

Grammar : Noun
Spell : fey-langks, fal-angks
Phonetic Transcription : ˈfeɪ læŋks, ˈfæl æŋks


Definition of phalanx

Origin :
  • 1550s, "line of battle in close ranks," from Latin phalanx "compact body of heavily armed men in battle array," or directly from Greek phalanx (genitive phalangos) "line of battle, battle array," also "finger or toe bone," originally "round piece of wood, trunk, log," of unknown origin. Perhaps from PIE root *bhelg- "plank, beam" (cf. Old English balca "balk;" see balk (n.)). The Macedonian phalanx consisted of 50 close files of 16 men each. In anatomy, originally the whole row of finger joints, which fit together like infantry in close order. Figurative sense of "number of persons banded together in a common cause" is attested from 1600 (cf. Spanish Falangist, member of a fascist organization founded in 1933).
  • As in legion : noun mass, force of people
  • As in toe : noun foot part
  • As in hand : noun appendage at end of human arm,
Example sentences :
  • Our housekeeping is not satisfactory to us, but perhaps a phalanx, a community, might be.
  • Extract from : « Essays, Second Series » by Ralph Waldo Emerson
  • Nicotine stain on right forefinger, extending to middle of second phalanx.
  • Extract from : « A Book of Burlesques » by H. L. Mencken
  • A dark mass approaches—a phalanx of horns and streaming manes.
  • Extract from : « The Western World » by W.H.G. Kingston
  • The phalanx ground to a halt, received the charge on the hedge of sarissas.
  • Extract from : « Adaptation » by Dallas McCord Reynolds
  • The Tulan phalanx moved slowly, obliquely across the valley.
  • Extract from : « Adaptation » by Dallas McCord Reynolds
  • Besides the phalanx and the bodies of Gauls, there was a troop of elephants in Antigonus's army.
  • Extract from : « Pyrrhus » by Jacob Abbott
  • Their position, as it would seem, was between the phalanx and the Gauls.
  • Extract from : « Pyrrhus » by Jacob Abbott
  • Nevertheless, another song is yet needed, for phalanx, and for maid.
  • Extract from : « The Crown of Wild Olive » by John Ruskin
  • What was the Lacedaemonian phalanx in the best days of Lacedaemon?
  • Extract from : « The History of England from the Accession of James II. » by Thomas Babington Macaulay
  • Already the phalanx of the enemy is pierced, already his armour is dinted.
  • Extract from : « The Octopus » by Frank Norris

Synonyms for phalanx

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019