ancilla
[ an-sil-uh ]
/ ænˈsɪl ə /
noun, plural an·cil·las.
an accessory; auxiliary or adjunct.
Archaic. a maidservant.
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Origin of ancilla
1870–75; < Latin: female slave, maid, probably anc- + -illa diminutive suffix, by reanalysis of ancula maid < *anquola, equivalent to an- (see ancile) + *-quola, noun derivative of a v. base *quel- turn about, hence “one who circles around”; cognate with Greek amphípolos attendant
Words nearby ancilla
ancient regime, ancient wisdom, anciently, ancientry, ancile, ancilla, ancillary, ancipital, ancohuma, ancon, ancona
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020