Amphibolidae 
Amphibolidse (am-fl-bol'i-de), n. pi. [NL., < 
Am phi bola + -ida:'] A family of basomma- 
tophorous pulmonate gastropods. TIio technical 
characters are a short, thick spiral shell closed by all 
open-ilium, the whorls shouldered, and gills present, 
though rudimentary. The species live in marshes where 
the water is brackish, ami have lint partially ai-rial respi- 
ration ; they are confined to New Zealand. Also called 
Ampltlhtri'riit/t'. 
amphiboliferous (am"fi-bo-lif'e-rus), a. [< iiin- 
phibole + -i-ferous.] Bearing or containing 
amphibole. 
Amphibulifi'i-ot/x anilesite anil iloleritc. 
. 
c. Brit., XVIII. 749. 
amphiboline (am-fib'o-lin), a. [< amphibole + 
-ine 1 .] In mineral., resembling amphibole. 
amphibolite (am-fib'o-lit), . K Gr. a/^/,fo/.o<,-, 
doubtful (see amphibole), + -i'teX] A rock be- 
longing to the class of the crystalline schists, 
and consisting largely of green hornblende, 
together with quartz or feldspar, or both. It 
is always more or less distinctly in beds like 
gneiss. 
amphibological (am"fl-bo-loj'i-kal), a. ^am- 
phibology.] Of or pertaining to amphibology; 
of doubtful meaning ; ambiguous. 
A fourth insinuates with a pleasing compliment, a sweet 
smile, ingratiates himself with an atnpliilwlufrintl speech. 
Burton, Anat. of Mel., p. 574. 
amphibologically (am' i 'fi-bo-loj / i-kal-i), adv. 
With a doubtful meaning. 
amphibologism (am-fi-bol'o-jizm), n. [< am- 
phibology + 4m. J An amphibolous construc- 
tion or phrase. N. E. D. 
amphibology (am-fi-bol'o-ji), n. ; pi. amphi- 
bologies (-jiz). [X LL. amphibologia, < LGr. 
*a/ut>i/loioyia, < Gr. a/uf>i(lotof, doubtful, ambig- 
uous (see amphibole), + -).oyia, < teyetv, speak: 
see -ology.] 1. The use of ambiguous phrases 
or statements. 2. In logic, a sentence which 
is ambiguous from uncertainty with regard to 
its construction, but not from uncertainty with 
regard to the meaning of the words forming it. 
A good example of amphibology is the answer of the oracle 
to Pyrrhus: "Aio te Romanos vincere posse." Here te 
and Romanos may either of them be the subject or object 
of vincere posse, and the sense may be either, you can con- 
quer the Romans, or, the Roman* can conquer you. The 
English language seldom admits of amphibology. For an 
English example, see second extract under amphibolous. 
Fallacy of amphibology. See fallacy. 
amphlboloid (am-fib'o-loid), a. [< amphibole 
+ -oid.~\ In mineral.^ having the appearance 
of amphibole. 
aniphibolostylous (am-fib' / o-16-sti'lus), a. [< 
NL. amphibolostylus, < Gr. aujlflotof, doubtful, 
+ arvtof, column (style). ] In bot., having the 
style not apparent. Syd. Soc. Lex. 
amphibolous (am-fib'o-lus), a. [< LL. amphi- 
bolus, < Gr. a/Mftifio^of, ambiguous: see amphi- 
bole.] Ambiguous; equivocal: now used only 
in logic as applied to a sentence susceptible of 
two meanings. [Rare.] 
Never [was] there such an amphibolous quarrel both 
parties declaring themselves for the king. 
Howell (?), England's Tears. 
An amphibolous sentence ia one that is capable of two 
meanings, not from the double sense of any of the words, 
but from its admitting a double construction ; as, ... 
"The duke yet lives that Henry shall depose." 
Whately, Logic, iii. If 10. 
AmpMbolura (am'fl-bo-lu'ra), n. [NL. (Ca- 
banis, 1847), < Gr. afj</>ijio'Aof, doubtful, ambig- 
uous (see amphibole), + oiipa, tail.] In ornith., 
the corrected orthography of Phibalura (which 
see). [Not in use.] 
amphiboly (am-fib'6-li), n. ; pi. amphibolies 
(-liz). [< L. aniphiboKa, < Gr. a/ufa/Mta, am- 
biguity, < djU^j'/Jo/lof, ambiguous : see amphibole.'] 
1. The use of ambiguities; quibbling. 2. In 
logic, ambiguity in the meaning of a proposi- 
tion, arising either from an uncertain syntax or 
from a figure of speech Transcendental amphi- 
boly, in the Kantian philosophy, the confusing of conccp. 
tions which exist in the understanding a priori (categories) 
with those which are derived from experience. 
amphibrach (am'fi-brak), n. [<.li.amphibrachys, 
sometimes amphibrachtts, < Gr. auijiifipaxvf, short 
on both sides, < afujii, on both sides, + fipaxif, 
short.] In pros., a foot of three syllables, the 
middle one long, the first and last short: as, 
habere, in Latin: the opposite of amphimacer. 
amphibrachys (am-fib'ra-kis), n. [L. : see 
above.] Same as amphibrach. 
Amphibrya (am-fib'ri-a), n. pi. [NL., neut. pi. 
of amphibryus : see amphibryoux.] In bo t., the 
endogens : a term used by Endlicher. 
amphibryous (am-fib'ri-us), a. [< NL. amjrfii- 
brijuii, < Ur. duiji!, around, + ftpvetv, swell, grow.] 
In bot., growing by additions to all parts of the 
periphery. A. Gray. 
183 
amphicarpic (am-fi-kar'pik), a. Sumo as <im- 
pntearpovs. 
amphicarpous (am-fi-kar'pus), a. [< NL. am- 
jiliicar/iiin, with fruit of two kinds (of. Gr. a/i<f>i- 
KapTroij, with fruit all round), < Gr. u/ufi, on both 
sides, around, + Kapvui;, fruit.] In bot., pro- 
ducing two classes of fruit, differing either in 
form or in time of ripening. 
amphicentric (am-fi-sen'trik), a. [NL., < Gr. 
a/*/>/, on both sides, + Ktvr/av, point, center.] In 
anat., coming together, as into a center, on both 
sides: applied to a bipolar rete mirabile, that 
is, one which is gathered again into and gives 
off a vessel similar to that one which breaks up 
to form the rete : opposed to monocentric. 
Amphicentrum (am-fi-sen'trum), n. [NL., < 
Gr. a/ufii, on both sides, + ictvTpov, spine: see 
center.'] A genus of fossil ganoid fishes of the 
Carboniferous strata, without abdominal fins. 
amphichiral (am-fi-ld'ral), a. [< Gr. a^i, 
around, on both sides, + %eip, hand.] Undis- 
tinguishable as to right and left; transform- 
able into its own perversion. Also spelled am- 
phicheiral. = Syn. Ambidexter, Amphichiral. Ambidex- 
ter refers to equal facility in using the two hands ; amphi- 
chiral refers to the geometrical similarity of the two sides. 
To be amphichiral does not imply being symmetrical, how- 
ever, but only the possibility of heing brought into two 
forms, one of which is the perversion or looking-glass im- 
age of the other. 
amphichroic (am-fi-kro'ik), a. [< Gr. au^i, on 
both sides, + xp^a, complexion, color.] Having 
a double action upon colors used as tests in 
chemistry. Erroneously written amphicroitic. 
N. E. D. 
amphichromatic (am"fi-ki-9-mat'ik), a. [< Gr. 
aufyi, on both sides, + xpiJ[id(T-), color : see chro- 
matic.'] Reacting both as an acid and as an 
alkali upon colors used as chemical tests. 
Amphiccelia (am-fi-se'li-a), n. pi. [NL., < Gr. 
d/i^imvAof, hollow all round: see a-mphicailfws.'] 
1. In Owen's classification of reptiles, a sub- 
order of Crocodilia, including the extinct croco- 
diles which have amphicoelous vertebrae, as 
members of the genns Teleosaurus. 2. [Used 
as a singular.] A genus of bivalve mollusks. 
James Hall, 1867. 
amphicoelian (am-fi-se'li-an), a. Amphicoe- 
lous ; having amphicoelous vertebras ; pertain- 
ing to tile Amphicoelia. 
Amphiccelias (am-fi-se'li-as), n. [NL., < Gr. 
anQiKoit.os, hollow all round: see amphic<elous.~] 
A genus of fossil dinosaurian reptiles with am- 
phicoelian vertebrae. A . altus was a huge species sup- 
posed to have been able to browse on tree- tops 30 feet high. 
A. framllimu*, another species, is supposed to have ex- 
ceeded A. altus in length. E. D. Cop?, 1877. 
amphicoelous (am-fi-se'lus), a. [< NL. amphi- 
ceelus,<. Gr. apdiamAot, hollow all round, hollow at 
both ends, < a/uj>i, at both ends, + KoZAof , hollow : 
see coeliac.] In anat. and cool., hollowed at both 
ends : said of vertebrae the centra or bodies of 
which are biconcave. This is the usual character of 
the vertebree of fishes, and also of the extinct crocodiles 
(Teleosauridce, BelodontidfK), and of some birds of the Creta- 
ceous period, as of the genus Ichthyornis (Odontotornue). 
Amphicoma (am-fik'o-ma), n. [NL., < Gr. afi- 
ijiiKouof, with hair all round, < a^'i, around, + 
Ko/fl7, hair.] A genus of lamellicorn beetles, of 
the family Scarabwidw. The mandibles in this genus 
are without teeth on the inner edge, the claveola of the 
antenna: are globular, and the legs are ordinary. 
Amphicondyla (am-fi-kon'di-la), n. pi. [NL., 
< Gr. a/a^i, on both sides, + KOV/>VAOC, a knuckle, 
mod. condyle.] A name given to the Mamma- 
lia, with reference to the pair of occipital con- 
dyles which vertebrates of this class possess 
in connection with an ossified basioccipital : 
opposed to Monocondyla (which see). 
Amphictene (am-fik'te-ne), n. [NL., < Gr. 
afupi, around, + Krt/f (KTCV-), a comb.] A genus 
of tubicolous worms, order Vephalobranchia, 
class Annelida, type of the family Amphicteni- 
da; : equivalent to Pectinaria. 
AmphictenidaB (am-fik-ten'i-de), n.pl. [NL., < 
Amphictene + -ida!.~] A family of polychsetous 
cepnalobranchiate annelids, represented by the 
genus Amphictene or Pectinaria. 
amphictyon (am-fik'ti-on), n. [< L. amphic- 
tijunes, < Gr. auQiKTvuv (Demosthenes), common- 
ly in pi. Afifucrbovec, more correctly au<j>tKTtovef, 
lit. dwellers around, neighbors, < a/j^t, around, 
+ "KTiovef (only in this word and mpusriavef, of 
same sense), pi. of "KT'IUV, ppr.,< -^/*KT<-, dwell 
( > Krifctv, people, establish, found), = Skt. -\/ 
kshi, dwell, inhabit.] In Gr. hist., a deputy to 
an amphictyonic council, especially the Del- 
phic : most commonly used in the plural for the 
council itself, or the body of deputies (often 
with a capital). 
amphidromical 
amphictyonic (am-fik-ti-on'ik), a. [< Gr. 
bufucrvovixAf. pertaining to the amphictyons.] 
Pertaining to an amphictyony, particularly to 
that of Delphi. 
amphictyony (am-fik'ti-on-i), . ; pi. umphicty- 
miii'H (-iz). [< Gr. (ijityiKTvovia (or -vela), < afi- 
<t>tKTvovt-(, amphictyons.] In Gr. hist., a league 
of peoples inhabiting neighboring territories or 
drawn together by community of origin or in- 
terests, for mutual protection and the guardian- 
ship in common of a central sanctuary and its 
rites. There were several such confederations, but the 
name isspecially appropriated to the most famous of them, 
that of Delphi. This was composed of twelve tribes, and its 
deputies met twice each year, alternately at Delphi and 
at Thermopyla;. Its origin dates back to the beginnings 
of Grecian history, and it survived the independence of 
Greece. It exercised paramount authority over the famous 
oracular sanctuary of the Pythian Apollo and over the sur- 
rounding region, and conducted the Pythian games ; and it 
constituted, though in au imperfect way, a national con- 
gress of the many comparatively small and often opposcil 
states into which Greece was divided. 
amphicurtous (am-fi-ker'tus), a. See amphi- 
cyrtoiis. 
amphicyon (am-fis'i-qn), n. [NL., < Gr. a^i, on 
both sides, 4- KVUV, dog, = E. hound, q. v.] A 
large fossil carnivorous quadruped, whose teeth 
combine the characters of those of the dogs 
(Canidai) and of the bears ( Ursidat). It occurs 
principally in the Miocene Tertiary formation. 
amphicyrtous (am-fi-ser'tus), a. [< Gr. aftijti- 
Kvprof, curved on each side like the moon in its 
3d quarter, gibbous, < a/upi, on both sides, + nvp- 
rof, curved: see curve."} Curved on both sides; 
gibbous. Also written amphicurtous. N. E. D. 
amphicytula (am-fi-sit'u-la), n. ; pi. amphicy- 
titlce (-le). [NL.,<amp/M--l- cytula, NL. dim. of 
Gr. KVTOC, a hollow.] In embryol., the parent- 
cell (cytula) which results from that stage in 
the development of a holoblastic egg known as 
an amphimonerula, by the re-formation of a nu- 
cleus, and which passes by total but unequal 
segmentation of the vitellus (yolk) to the succes- 
sive stages known as amphimorula, amphiblas- 
tula, and amphigastrula. See these words. The 
human egg is an example. This is the usual form of egg 
in mammals and sundry other animals. See ijastrulation. 
amphidt, amphidet (am'fid, -fid), . [< Gr. a^i, 
both, + -id 2 .] A term applied by Berzelius to 
the salts of those acids which contain oxygen, 
to distinguish them from the haloid salts. The 
amphid salts were regarded as compounds of two oxids, 
one electro-positive, the other electro-negative. 
Amphidesma (am-fi-des'ma), n. [NL., < Gr. 
aiitju, on both sides, + rfra/iof, a band, < Selv, 
bind.] A genus of lamellibranchiates, con- 
taining bivalve mollusks of rounded form with 
large siphons, a long tongue-shaped foot, and 
a double ligament, one internal and one exter- 
nal : a synonym of Semele. Lamarck, 1818. 
amphidesmid (am-fi-des'mid), n. A bivalve 
mollusk of the family Amphidesmidai. 
Amphidesmidae (am-fi-des'mi-de), n.pl. [NL., 
< Amphidesma + -ida!.~] A family of bivalve 
mollusks, of which the genus Amphidesma is 
the type : a synonym of Semelidai. 
amphidiarthrodial (am"fi-di-ar-thro'di-al), a. 
[< NL. amphidiarthrosis, after arthrodiaf.'] Of 
or pertaining to amphidiarthrosis. 
amphidiarthrosis (am"fi-dl-ar-thr6'sis), n. 
[NL., < Gr. afupi, on both sides, + didpBpuaif, 
articulation, diarthrosis.] In anat., a mode of 
articulation which partakes of the nature of 
both diarthrosis and amphiarthrosis, admitting 
of free movement in several directions. A fa- 
miliar example is the articulation of the lower jaw with 
the rest of the human skull, which permits an up-and-down 
motion, as in opening and shutting the mouth, and also a 
rotatory motion from side to side and forward and back- 
ward. Also called double arthrodia. 
amphidisk, amphidisc (am'fi-disk), . [< NL. 
(iiiii>hi(lisciis, < Gr. a/aj>i, at both ends, + diaitof, 
a round plate: see disk.] In zool., one of the 
spicules, resembling two toothed wheels united 
by an axle, which surround the reproductive 
gemmules of Spongilla. Also written amphi- 
discus. 
amphidromia (am-fi-dro'mi-a), n. pi. [< Gr. aft- 
tfiiop6[ua, pi. (see def.), < Sjttlipopof, running 
around, < a^i, around, + -dpofjiof, running, < 
Spafttlv, run : see Dramas, dromedary, etc.] In 
ancient Athens, a family festival in honor of 
the birth of a child. It was held in the evening, when 
the child was about a week old. The guests brought small 
presents and were entertained at a repast. The child was 
presented to the company and carried about the family 
hearth by two women, and at this time received its name, 
to which the guests were witnesses. The door of the 
house was decorated with olive-branches for a boy, and 
with tufts of wool for a girl. 
amphidromical (am-fi-drom'i-kal), a. Pertain- 
ing to the amphidromia. 
