ancile

[ an-sahy-lee, ahng-kee-ley ]
/ ænˈsaɪ li, ɑŋˈki leɪ /

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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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?
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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.
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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

Words nearby ancile

ancient of days, ancient regime, ancient wisdom, anciently, ancientry, ancile, ancilla, ancillary, ancipital, ancohuma, ancon
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

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