amphithecium

[ am-fuh-thee-shee-uh m ]
/ ˌæm fəˈθi ʃi əm /

noun, plural am·phi·the·ci·a [am-fuh-thee-shee-uh] /ˌæm fəˈθi ʃi ə/.

Botany. the layer or one of the layers of cells in the capsule of a moss surrounding the spores.
Mycology. (in certain lichens) a layer of cells that surrounds the fungal apothecium.

QUIZZES

DO YOU KNOW THIS VOCABULARY FROM "THE HANDMAID'S TALE"?

"The Handmaid's Tale" was required reading for many of us in school. Everyone else has probably watched the very popular and addictive TV show. Do you remember this vocabulary from the book, and do you know what these terms mean?
Question 1 of 10
decorum
the act of or need for making up one's mind.
dignified propriety of behavior, speech, dress, etc.
a company of singers, especially an organized group employed in church service.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of amphithecium

< New Latin < Greek amphi- amphi- + thēkíon (thḗk(ē) case, cover + -ion diminutive suffix)

OTHER WORDS FROM amphithecium

am·phi·the·cial [am-fuh-thee-shuh l, -shee-uh l, -see-uh l] /ˌæm fəˈθi ʃəl, -ʃi əl, -si əl/, adjective

Words nearby amphithecium

amphistomous, amphistylar, amphithalamus, amphitheater, amphitheatre, amphithecium, amphithemis, amphithuron, amphithyra, amphithyron, amphitricha
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

British Dictionary definitions for amphithecium

amphithecium
/ (ˌæmfɪˈθiːsɪəm) /

noun plural -cia (-sɪə)

the outer layer of cells of the sporophyte of mosses and liverworts that develops into the outer parts of the spore-bearing capsule

Word Origin for amphithecium

C19: from New Latin, from amphi- + Greek thēkion a little case, from thēkē case
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012