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ancile

[ an-sahy-lee, ahng-kee-ley ]
/ ænˈsaɪ li, ɑŋˈki leɪ /
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noun, plural an·cil·i·a [an-sil-ee-uh, ahng-kil-]. /ænˈsɪl i ə, ɑŋˈkɪl-/. Roman Religion.
a shield given by Mars to Numa Pompilius as the palladium of Rome.
any of 11 counterfeits of this shield, carried with it on ceremonial occasions.
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Origin of ancile

1590–1600; <Latin ancīle, traditionally said to be equivalent to an- (variant of ambi-ambi- before c-) + -cīle (-cīd- combining form of caed(ere) to cut (cf. -cide) + *-sl- noun suffix + -e, earlier *-i, stem vowel for compounds), referring to the deep indentations in the waist of the shield
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

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