The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Phenix \Phe"nix\, n.; pl. Phenixes. [L. phoenix, Gr. foi^nix.]
[Written also ph[oe]nix.]
1. (Gr. Myth.) A bird fabled to exist single, to be consumed
by fire by its own act, and to rise again from its ashes.
Hence, an emblem of immortality.
[1913 Webster]
2. (Astron.) A southern constellation.
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3. A marvelous person or thing. [R.] --Latimer.
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4. A person or thing that suffered destruction or defeat and
was restored to its former state.
[PJC]
to rise like a phoenix, to resume an endeavor after an
apparently final defeat.
[PJC]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Phoenix \Ph[oe]"nix\ (f[=e]"n[i^]ks), n. [L., a fabulous bird.
See Phenix.]
1. Same as Phenix. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
2. (Bot.) [Capitalized] A genus of palms including the date
tree.
[1913 Webster]
The Devil's Dictionary (1881-1906):
PHOENIX, n. The classical prototype of the modern "small hot bird."