ancilla

[ an-sil-uh ]
/ ænˈsɪl ə /

noun, plural an·cil·las.

an accessory; auxiliary or adjunct.
Archaic. a maidservant.

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

Example sentences from the Web for ancilla