Am`phi*gor"ic (&?;), a. [See Amphigory.] Nonsensical; absurd; pertaining to an amphigory.
Am"phi*go*ry (&?;), n. [F. amphigouri, of uncertain derivation; perh. fr. Gr. &?; + &?; a circle.] A nonsense verse; a rigmarole, with apparent meaning, which on further attention proves to be meaningless. [Written also amphigouri.]
{ Am*phil"o*gism (&?;), Am*phil"o*gy (&?;), } n. [Gr. &?; + -logy.] Ambiguity of speech; equivocation. [R.]
Am*phim"a*cer (&?;), n. [L. amphimacru&?;, Gr. &?;; &?; on both sides + &?; long.] (Anc. Pros.) A foot of three syllables, the middle one short and the others long, as in cst&?;ts. Andrews.
||Am`phi*neu"ra (&?;), n. pl. [NL., fr. &?; + &?; sinew, nerve.] (Zoöl.) A division of Mollusca remarkable for the bilateral symmetry of the organs and the arrangement of the nerves.
||Am`phi*ox"us (&?;), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; + &?; sharp.] (Zoöl.) A fishlike creature (Amphioxus lanceolatus), two or three inches long, found in temperature seas; -- also called the lancelet. Its body is pointed at both ends. It is the lowest and most generalized of the vertebrates, having neither brain, skull, vertebræ, nor red blood. It forms the type of the group Acrania, Leptocardia, etc.
Am*phip"neust (&?;), n. [Gr. &?; + &?; one who breathes, &?; to breathe.] (Zoöl.) One of a tribe of Amphibia, which have both lungs and gills at the same time, as the proteus and siren.
Am"phi*pod (&?;), n. (Zoöl.) One of the Amphipoda.
{ Am"phi*pod (&?;), Am*phip"o*dan (&?;), } a. (Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to the Amphipoda.
||Am*phip"o*da (&?;), n. pl. [NL., FR. Gr. &?; + &?;, &?; foot.] (Zoöl.) A numerous group of fourteen -- footed Crustacea, inhabiting both fresh and salt water. The body is usually compressed laterally, and the anterior pairs or legs are directed downward and forward, but the posterior legs are usually turned upward and backward. The beach flea is an example. See Tetradecapoda and Arthrostraca.
Am*phip"o*dous (&?;), a. (Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to the Amphipoda.
Am*phip"ro*style (&?;), a. [L. amphiprostylos, Gr. &?; having a double prostyle: cf. F. amphiprostyle. See Prostyle.] (Arch.) Doubly prostyle; having columns at each end, but not at the sides. -- n. An amphiprostyle temple or edifice.
||Am`phi*rhi"na (&?;), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; + &?;, &?;, nose.] (Zoöl.) A name applied to the elasmobranch fishes, because the nasal sac is double.
||Am`phis*bæ"na (&?;), n. [L., fr. Gr. &?;; &?; on both ends + &?; to go.] 1. A fabled serpent with a head at each end, moving either way. Milton.
2. (Zoöl.) A genus of harmless lizards, serpentlike in form, without legs, and with both ends so much alike that they appear to have a head at each, and ability to move either way. See Illustration in Appendix.
The Gordius aquaticus, or hairworm, has been called an amphisbæna; but it belongs among the worms.
||Am`phis*bæ"noid (&?;), a. [NL., fr. L. amphisbaena + -oid.] (Zoöl.) Like or pertaining to the lizards of the genus Amphisbæna.
{ ||Am*phis"ci*i (&?;), Am*phis"cians (&?;), } n. pl. [Gr. &?; throwing a shadow both ways; &?; + &?; shadow.] The inhabitants of the tropic, whose shadows in one part of the year are cast to the north, and in the other to the south, according as the sun is south or north of their zenith.
Am*phis"to*mous (&?;), a. [Gr. &?; + &?; mouth.] (Zoöl.) Having a sucker at each extremity, as certain entozoa, by means of which they adhere.
Am`phi*sty"lic (&?;), a. [Gr. &?; + &?; pillar, support.] (Anat.) Having the mandibular arch articulated with the hyoid arch and the cranium, as in the cestraciont sharks; -- said of a skull.
{ Am`phi*the"a*ter, Am`phi*the"a*tre, } (&?;), n. [L. amphitheatrum, fr. Gr. &?;; &?; + &?; theater: cf. F. amphithéâtre. See Theater.] 1. An oval or circular building with rising tiers of seats about an open space called the arena.
The Romans first constructed amphitheaters for combats of gladiators and wild beasts.
2. Anything resembling an amphitheater in form; as, a level surrounded by rising slopes or hills, or a rising gallery in a theater.
Am`phi*the"a*tral (&?;), a. [L. amphitheatralis: cf. F. amphithéâtral.] Amphitheatrical; resembling an amphitheater.
{ Am`phi*the*at"ric (&?;), Am`phi*the*at"ric*al (&?;), } a. [L. amphitheatricus.] Of, pertaining to, exhibited in, or resembling, an amphitheater.
Am`phi*the*at"ric*al*ly, adv. In the form or manner of an amphitheater.
||Am*phit"ro*cha (m*ft"rk), n. [NL., fr. Gr. 'amfi` + trocho`s a wheel.] (Zoöl.) A kind of annelid larva having both a dorsal and a ventral circle of special cilia.
{ Am*phit"ro*pal (-pal), Am*phit"ro*pous (- ps), } a. [Gr. 'amfi` + tre`pein to turn.] (Bot.) Having the ovule inverted, but with the attachment near the middle of one side; half anatropous.
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||Am`phi*u"ma (m`f*"m), n. (Zoöl.) A genus of amphibians, inhabiting the Southern United States, having a serpentlike form, but with four minute limbs and two persistent gill openings; the Congo snake.
Am`pho*pep"tone (&?;), n. [Gr. &?; + E. peptone.] (Physiol.) A product of gastric digestion, a mixture of hemipeptone and antipeptone.
||Am"pho*ra (&?;), n.; pl. Amophoræ (&?;). [L., fr. Gr. &?;, &?;, a jar with two handles; &?; + &?; bearer, &?; to bear. Cf. Ampul.] Among the ancients, a two-handled vessel, tapering at the bottom, used for holding wine, oil, etc.
Am"pho*ral (&?;), a. [L. amphoralis.] Pertaining to, or resembling, an amphora.
Am*phor"ic (&?;), a. (Med.) Produced by, or indicating, a cavity in the lungs, not filled, and giving a sound like that produced by blowing into an empty decanter; as, amphoric respiration or resonance.
Am`pho*ter"ic (&?;), a. [Gr. &?; both.] Partly one and partly the other; neither acid nor alkaline; neutral. [R.] Smart.
Am"ple (&?;), a. [F. ample, L. amplus, prob. for ambiplus full on both sides, the last syllable akin to L. plenus full. See Full, and cf. Double.] Large; great in size, extent, capacity, or bulk; spacious; roomy; widely extended.
All the people in that ample house
Did to that image bow their humble knees.
Spenser.
2. Fully sufficient; abundant; liberal; copious; as, an ample fortune; ample justice.
3. Not contracted of brief; not concise; extended; diffusive; as, an ample narrative. Johnson.
Syn. -- Full; spacious; extensive; wide; capacious; abundant; plentiful; plenteous; copious; bountiful; rich; liberal; munificent. -- Ample, Copious, Abundant, Plenteous. These words agree in representing a thing as large, but under different relations, according to the image which is used. Ample implies largeness, producing a sufficiency or fullness of supply for every want; as, ample stores or resources, ample provision. Copious carries with it the idea of flow, or of collection at a single point; as, a copious supply of materials. "Copious matter of my song." Milton. Abundant and plenteous refer to largeness of quantity; as, abundant stores; plenteous harvests.
Am*plec"tant (&?;), a. [L. amplecti to embrace.] (Bot.) Clasping a support; as, amplectant tendrils. Gray.
Am"ple*ness (&?;), n. The state or quality of being ample; largeness; fullness; completeness.