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.

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

Example sentences from the Web for ancile