ancilla
[an-sil-uh]
- 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
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for ancilla
Historical Examples
I shall have occasion to speak again of Ancilla before her death.
The Memoires of Casanova, CompleteJacques Casanova de Seingalt
The larger is Ancilla pyramidalis, the smaller Ancilla mucronata.
Beautiful Shells of New ZealandE. G. B. Moss
Ancilla fainted away, and the count, after refunding the money, challenged me to follow him out and measure swords.
The Memoires of Casanova, CompleteJacques Casanova de Seingalt
I likewise met in the same place Campioni, the husband of the beautiful Ancilla.
The Memoires of Casanova, CompleteJacques Casanova de Seingalt
I was never unwelcome at their amorous battles, and the voluptuous Ancilla was delighted to have me for a witness.
The Memoires of Casanova, CompleteJacques Casanova de Seingalt