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Gordian knot
//ˈɡɔːdɪən ˈnɒt// noun
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The legendary knot tied to a pole near the temple of Zeus in Gordium. Greek
- 2 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 wordnet
- 3 Any intricate and complex problem having a simple solution. broadly
"List his discourse of war, and you shall hear A fearful battle rend'red you in music; Turn him to any cause of policy, The Gordian knot of it he will unloose."
- 4 any very difficult problem; insoluble in its own terms wordnet
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' favor. He then proceeded to conquer much of the known world.
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