A- (3) prefix meaning "not," from Gk a-, an- "not," from pie base *ne "not" (see un-)

amphetamine --- 1938, contracted from alphamethyl-phenethylamine.

amphi- --- from Gk. amphi- "both, of both kinds, on both sides, around" (see ambi-).

amphibian --- 1637, "having two modes of existence, of doubtful nature," from Gk. amphibia, neut. pl. of amphibios, from amphi- "of both kinds" + bios "life" (see bio-). Formerly used by zoologists to describe all sorts of combined natures (including otters and seals), the biological sense "class of animals between fishes and reptiles that live both on land and in water," and the noun derivative, first recorded 1835. Amphibia was used in this sense from 1609 and has been a zoological classification since c.1819. Amphibious with ref. to motorized vehicles dates from 1915.

amphibrach --- 1589, from L. amphibrachus, from Gk. amphibrakhys "short at both ends," from amphi- "on both sides" + brakhys "short." A foot consisting of a long between two short syllables.

Amphictyonic League --- 1753, one of several ancient Gk. confederations of neighboring states, from Gk. amphiktiones "neighbors," lit. "they that dwell round about," from amphi- "on both sides" + second element related to ktizein "to create, found," ktoina "habitation, township."

amphigory --- 1809, "burlesque nonsense writing or verse," from Fr. amphigouri, of unknown origin, perhaps from Gk. amphi- (q.v.) + gyros "circle," thus "circle on both sides," or second element may be from Gk. -agoria "speech" (cf. allegory, category).

Amphiscians --- c.1622, from M.L. Amphiscii, from Gk. amphiskioi, from amphi- "on both sides" + skia "shadow." Inhabitants of torrid zones, so called because they are "people whose shadow is sometimes to the North, and sometimes to the South."

amphitheater --- 1546, from L. amphitheatrum, from Gk. amphitheatron, neut. of amphitheatros "with spectators all around," from amphi- "on both sides" + theatron "theater," from theasthai "watch, look at." Classical theaters were semi-circles, thus two together made an amphitheater.

amphora --- 1323, "two-handled vessel for holding wine, oil, etc.," from L. amphora from Gk. amphoreus, contraction of amphiphoreus, from amphi- "on both sides" + phoreus "bearer." Also a liquid measure in the ancient world, in Gk. equal to 9 gallons, in Rome to 6 gallons, 7 pints.

ample --- 1437, from M.Fr. ample, from L. amplus "large, spacious."

amplify --- 1432, "to enlarge or expand," from M.Fr. amplifier, from L. amplificare "to enlarge," from amplificus "splendid," from amplus "large" + the root of facere "make, do" (see factitious). Meaning "augment in volume or amount" is from 1580. Specific focus on sound seems to have emerged in the electronic age, c.1915, in ref. to radio technology. The electronic amplifier first attested 1914; shortened form amp is from 1967.

amplitude --- 1549, from L. amplitudinem (nom. amplitudo, gen. amplitudinis) "wide extent, width," from amplus (see ample). Amplitude modulation in ref. to radio wave broadcast (as opposed to frequency modulation) first attested 1921, usually abbreviated a.m.

ampul --- small bottle or flask, 1205, from O.Fr. ampole, from L. ampulla "small globular bottle, of unknown origin.

amputation --- 1611, "a cutting off of tree branches, as in pruning," from L. amputationem (nom. amputatio), noun of action from amputare "to cut off, to prune," from am(bi)- "about" + putare "to prune, trim." Meaning "operation of cutting off a limb, etc., of a body" is attested from 1612. Amputate in this sense is from 1639. Derivative amputee first recorded 1910.

Amtrak --- 1971, contraction of American Track. The government-run company also is known as National Railway Passenger Corp.

amulet --- 1447, amalettys, from L. amuletum (Pliny) "thing worn as a charm against spells, disease, etc.," of uncertain origin, perhaps related to amoliri "to avert, to carry away, remove." Not recorded again in Eng. until 1601; the 15c. use may be via M.Fr.

amuse --- 1480, from M.Fr. amuser "divert, cause to muse," from à "at, to" (but here probably a causal prefix) + muser "ponder, stare fixedly." Sense of "divert from serious business, tickle the fancy of" is recorded from 1631, but through 18c. the primary meaning was "deceive, cheat" by first occupying the attention. Bemuse retains more of the original meaning. Amusement "a pastime, play, game, etc." is first recorded 1673, originally depreciative. Amusement park is first recorded 1909. Amusing is noted late 1920s as a vogue word.

Amy --- fem. proper name, from O.Fr. Amee, lit. "beloved," from fem. pp. of amer "to love," from L. amare, perhaps from PIE *am-a-, suffixed form of base *am-, a L. and Celt., root forming various nursery words for "mother, aunt," etc. (cf. L. amita "aunt").

amygdala --- the tonsils, 1541, from L., from Gk. amygdale "almond" (see almond). The anatomical use is as a direct transl, of Ar. al-lauzatan "the two tonsils," lit. "the two almonds," so called by Ar. physicians for fancied resemblance.

amyl --- hydrocarbon radical, 1850, from L. amylum, from Gk. amylon "fine meal, starch," lit. neut. of adj. amylos "not ground at the mill," from priv. prefix a- "not" + myle "mill." So called because first obtained from the distilled spirits of potato or grain starch.

an --- indefinite article, 12c., from O.E. an (with a long vowel) "one, lone," also used as a prefix an- "single, lone;" see one for the divergence of that word from this one. Also see a, of which this is the older, fuller form. In other European languages, identity between indefinite article and the word for "one" remains explicit (e.g. Fr. un, Ger. ein, etc.) O.E. got by without indefinite articles: He was a good man in O.E. was he wæs god man. Circa 15c., a and an commonly were written as one word with the following noun, which contributed to the confusion over how such words as newt and umpire ought to be divided (see N). In Shakespeare, etc., an sometimes is a contraction of as if (a usage first attested c.1300), especially before it.

an- --- privative prefix, from Gk., "not, without," related to ne- and cognate with Skt. an-, L. in-, Goth., O.E. un-.

ana- --- prefix meaning 1. "upward," 2. "back, backward, against," 3. "again, anew," from Gk. ana- "up to, toward, exceedingly, back, against," from ana "up, on, upon, throughout, again," cognate with O.E. on, from PIE base *ano- "on, upon, above."

Anabaptist --- 1532, "one who baptizes over again," from L. anabaptismus "second baptism" (used in literal sense from 4c.), as if from Gk. ana- "up (in place or time), back again, anew" + baptismos "baptism." Originally in Eng. in ref. to sect that practiced adult baptism and arose in Germany 1521. Probably so called because, as a new faith, they baptized converts who had already been baptized (as infants) in the older Christian churches. Modern branches only baptize once (adults) and do not actively seek converts. The name also was applied, usually opprobriously, to Baptists, perhaps due to the multiple immersions of their baptisms.

anabasis --- 1706, from Gk. "military expedition," lit. "a going up (from the coast)," especially in reference to the advance of Cyrus the Younger from near the Aegean coast into Asia, and the story of the 10,000 narrated by Xenophon (401 B.C.E.), from ana "up" + bainein "to go" (see come).

anabolic --- pertaining to the process of building up (especially in metabolism), 1876, from Gk. anabole "that which is thrown up, mound," from ana "up, upward" + ballein "to throw."

anachronism --- c.1646, "an error in computing time or finding dates," from L. anachronismus, from Gk. anachronismos, from anachronizein "refer to wrong time," from ana- "against" + khronizein "spend time," from khronos "time." Meaning "something out of harmony with the present" first recorded 1816.

anacoluthon --- 1706, "want of grammatical sequence, changing constructions in mid-clause," from L., from Gk. neut. of anakolouthos "inconsequent," from an- "not" + akolouthos "following," from copulative prefix a- + keleuthos "way, road, track, path" (see celerity).

anaconda --- 1768, probably a Latinization of Sinhalese henacandaya "whip snake," lit. "lightning-stem." A name first used in Eng. to name a Ceylonese python, it erroneously was applied to a large S.Amer. boa, called in Brazil sucuriuba. The word is of uncertain origin, and no snake name like it now is found in Sinhalese or Tamil. Another suggestion is that it represents Tamil anaikkonda "having killed an elephant."

Anacreontic --- of or in the manner of Anacreon, "convivial bard of Greece," the celebrated Gk. lyrical poet, born at Teos in Ionia (560-478 B.C.E.). In ref. to his lyric form (1706) of a four-line stanza, rhymed alternately, each line with four beats (three trochees and a long syllable), also "convivial and amatory" (1801); and "an erotic poem celebrating love and wine" (c.1656). Francis Scott Key in 1814 set or wrote his poem "The Star-Spangled Banner" to the melody of "To Anacreon in Heav'n," the drinking song of the popular London gentleman's club called The Anacreontic Society, whose membership was dedicated to "wit, harmony, and the god of wine." To Anacreon in Heav'n, where he sat in full glee, A few Sons of Harmony sent a petition; That he their Inspirer and Patron wou'd be; When this answer arrived from the Jolly Old Grecian; "Voice, Fiddle, and Flute, No longer be mute, I'll lend you my name and inspire you to boot, And besides I'll instruct you like me, to intwine, The Myrtle of Venus with Bacchus's Vine." The tune is late 18c. and may be the work of society member and court musician John Stafford Smith (1750-1836).

anacrusis --- 1833, "a syllable at the beginning of a verse before the rhyme," from Gk. anakrousis "a pushing back," from ana- "back" + krouein "to strike" (cognate with Rus. krusit, Lith. krusu "to smash, shatter," O.C.S. kruchu "piece, bit of food").

anaerobic --- capable of living without oxygen, 1879 (as anaerobian, modern form first attested 1884), from Fr. anaérobie, coined 1863 by Louis Pasteur, from Gk. an- "without" + aer "air" + bios "life" (see bio-).

anagram --- 1589, from Fr. anagramme, from Gk. anagrammatizein "transpose letters," from ana- "up, back" + gramma (gen. grammatos) "letter."

anal --- 1769, from Mod.L. analis "of the anus" (see anus). Anal retentive first attested 1958, in psychological jargon.

analects --- 1658, "literary gleanings," from Gk. analekta, lit. "things chosen," neut. pl., from ana- "up" + legein "to gather," also "to choose words," hence "to speak" (see lecture).

analemma --- 1652, from L. analemma "the pedestal of a sundial," hence the sundial itself, from Gk. analemma "prop, support," from analambanein, from ana- "up" + lambanein "to take," from PIE base *(s)lagw- "to seize, take" (cf. Skt. labhate, rabhate "seizes," O.E. læccan "to seize, grasp;" Gk. lazomai "I take, grasp," O.C.S. leca "to catch, snare," Lith. lobis "possession, riches").

analeptic --- 1661, "restorative, strengthening" (in medicine), from Gk. analeptikos, from analambanein (see analemma).

analgesic --- 1875, "tending to remove pain," from analgesia "absence of pain" (1706), from Gk. an- "without" + algesis "sense of pain," from algos "pain."

analogy --- 1550, from L. analogia, from Gk. analogia "proportion," from ana- "upon, according to" + logos "ratio," also "word, speech, reckoning." A mathematical term used in a wider sense by Plato.

analysis --- 1581, "resolution of anything complex into simple elements" (opposite of synthesis), from M.L. analysis, from Gk. analysis "a breaking up," from analyein "unloose," from ana- "up, throughout" + lysis "a loosening" (see lose). Psychological sense is from 1890. Phrase in the final (or last) analysis (1844), translates Fr. en dernière analyse.

Ananias --- liar, in ref. to Acts v.3-5.

anapest --- 1678, "two short syllables followed by a long one," from L. anapestus, from Gk. anapaistos "struck back, rebounding," verbal adj. from anapaiein "to strike back," from ana- "back" + paiein "to strike," so called because it reverses the dactyl.

anarchy --- 1539, from M.L. anarchia, from Gk. anarkhia "lack of a leader," noun of state from anarkhos "rulerless," from an- "without" + arkhos "leader" (see archon). Anarchist (1678) got a boost into modernity from the French Revolution. Anarcho-syndicalism is first recorded 1913.

Anasazi --- Name applied by their Navajo neighbors to modern Pueblo peoples of the U.S. southwest, and to various landscape features associated with them, from Navajo anaasazi "ancestors of the enemies." Said to first have been applied to the ancient Pueblo ruins of southwestern United States in the Mesa Verde region c.1889 by rancher and trader Richard Wetherill, who began exploration of the sites in the area; established in archaeological terminology 1927.

Anastasia --- fem. proper name, from L.L. fem. of Anastasius, from Gk. Anastasios, from anastasis "resurrection," lit. "a rising up," from ana "up" + istanai "to make stand."

anathema --- 1526, from L. anathema "an excommunicated person, the curse of excommunication," from Gk. anathema "a thing accursed," originally "a thing devoted," lit. "a thing set up (to the gods)," from ana- "up" + tithenai "to place," from PIE base *dhe- "to put, to do" (see factitious). Originally simply a votive offering, by the time it reached L. the meaning had progressed through "thing devoted to evil," to "thing accursed or damned." Later applied to persons and the Divine Curse. Anathema maranatha, taken as an intensified form, is a misreading of the Syriac maran etha "the Lord hath come," which follows anathema in I Cor. xvi.22, but is not connected with it.

Anatolia --- ancient name of Asia Minor, from M.L. Anatolia, from Gk. anatole "the east," originally "sunrise" (which happens in the east), lit. "a rising above (the horizon)," from anatellein "to rise," from ana "up" + tellein "to accomplish, perform."

anatomy --- 1398, "study of the structure of living beings," from O.Fr. anatomie, from Gk. anatomia, from anatome "dissection," from ana- "up" + temnein "to cut." "Dissection" (1541), "mummy" (1586), and even "skeleton" (1594) were primary senses in Shakespeare's day; meaning "the science of the structure of organized bodies" predominated from 17c. Often misdivided as an atomy or a natomy. "The scyence of the Nathomy is nedefull and necessarye to the Cyrurgyen" [1541]

ancestor --- 1297, from O.Fr. ancestre, from L.L. antecessor "predecessor," lit. "foregoer," agent noun from L. antecess-, stem of antecedere "precede," agent noun from ante- "before" (see ante) + cedere "to go" (see cede).

anchor --- O.E. ancor, borrowed 9c. from L. ancora, from or cognate with Gk. ankyra "anchor, hook" (see ankle). A very early borrowing and said to be the only L. nautical term used in the Gmc. languages. The -ch- spelling emerged late 16c., in imitation of a misspelling of the L. word. The fig. sense of "that which gives stability or security" is from 1382. Meaning "host or presenter of a TV or radio program" is from 1965, short for anchorman (1958), which earlier meant "the last man of a tug-of-war team" (1909) and "the one who runs last in a relay race" (1934). The verb is first attested c.1230. "Anchors are of various sizes. The largest is the SHEET-anchor; next in size are the BOWER-anchors, hung in the bows of ships; the smallest is the KEDGE-anchor." [OED]

anchorite --- c.1433, "hermit, recluse, one who withdraws from the world for religious reasons" (especially those of the Eastern deserts), from M.L. anchorita, from Gk. anakhoretes, lit. "one who has retired," agent noun from anakhorein "to retreat," from ana- "back" + khorein "withdraw, give place," from khoros "place, space."

anchovy --- 1596, from Port. anchova, from Genoese or Corsican dialect, ultimately from either L. apua "small fish" (from Gk. aphye "small fry") or from Basque anchu "dried fish," from anchuva "dry."

ancien régime --- 1794, from Fr., lit. "old rule," referring to the government and social order of France before the Revolution there.

ancient --- 1366, auncyen, from O.Fr. ancien, from V.L. *anteanus, adjectivization of L. ante "before, in front of, against," from PIE *anti "against," locative singular of *ant- "front, forehead." With parasitic -t- 15c. by influence of words in -ent. Specifically, in history, "belonging to the period before the fall of the Western Roman Empire" (and contrasted with medieval and modern). In Eng. law, "from before the Norman Conquest." Ancient of Days is from Dan. vii.9. Meaning "standard-bearer" (1554, archaic, but preserved in Shakespeare's character Aunchient Pistoll in "Henry V") is a corruption of ensign (1554).

ancillary --- 1667, "subservient, subordinate," from L. ancillaris "relating to maidservants," dim. of ancilla "handmaid," fem. dim. of anculus "servant," lit. "he who bustles about," from root of ambi- "about" + PIE *kwol-o-, from base *kwel- "move round, turn about, be much about" (see cycle).

and --- O.E. and, ond, orig. meaning "thereupon, next," from P.Gmc. *unda (cf. O.S. endi, O.Fris. anda, M.Du. ende, O.H.G. enti, Ger. und, O.N. enn), cognate with L. ante, Gk. anti. Phrase and how as an exclamation of emphatic agreement dates from early 1900s.

Andalusia --- former name of southern Spain, from Sp., from Arabic Al Andalus, name for the entire peninsula, from L.L. *Vandalicia "the country of the Vandals," in ref. to one of the Germanic tribes that overran the Western Empire.

andante --- musical direction, "moderately slow" (1742), from It., prp. of andare "to go," from V.L. ambitare (cf. Sp. andar "to go"), from L. ambitus, pp. of ambire (see ambient).

Andes --- from Quechua andi "high crest."

andiron --- 1309, from O.Fr. andier, of unknown origin, perhaps from Gaul. *andero- "a young bull" (cf. Welsh anner "heifer"), which would make sense if they once had bull's heads cast onto them. Altered by influence of M.E. iren (see iron).

Andrew --- masc. proper name, from O.Fr. Andreu (Fr. André, from L. Andreas, from Gk. Andreas, from andreios "manly," from aner (gen. andros) "man." Andrew Millar (1596) for some forgotten reason became Eng. naval slang for "government authority," and especially "the Royal Navy." St. Andrew (feast day Nov. 30) has long been regarded as patron saint of Scotland.

androgynous --- 1628, from L. androgynus, from Gk. androgynos, "male and female in one," from andros gen. of aner "male" + gyne "woman" (see queen). Androgyne is attested from 1552.

android --- automaton resembling a human being, 1727, from Mod.L. androides, from Gk. andro- "human" + eides "form, shape." Listed as "rare" in OED (1879), popularized from c.1951 by science fiction writers.

Andromeda --- constellation, 1706, in classical mythology the daughter of Cepheus and Cassiopeia, from Gk., lit. "mindful of her husband," from andros, gen. of aner "man" + medesthai "to be mindful of, think on," related to medea (neut. pl.) "counsels, plans, devices, cunning" (and source of the name Medea).

anecdote --- 1676, "secret or private stories," from Gk. anekdota "things unpublished," neut. pl. of anekdotos, from an- "not" + ekdotos "published," from ek- "out" + didonai "to give" (see date (1)). Procopius' 6c. Anecdota, unpublished memoirs of Emperor Justinian full of court gossip, gave the word a sense of "revelation of secrets," which decayed in Eng. to "brief, amusing stories" (1761). Anecdotage "garrulous old age" is a jocular formation of De Quincey's from 1823.

anemia --- 1824, from Fr. medical term (1761), from Gk. anaimia "lack of blood," from anaimos "bloodless," from an- "without" + haima "blood" (see -emia).

anemone --- flowering plant genus, 1548, from L. anemone, from Gk. anemone "wind flower," lit. "daughter of the wind," from anemos "wind" (cognate with L. anima, see animal) + -one feminine patronymic suffix, the flower name perhaps orig. from Hebrew (cf. na'aman, in nit'e na'amanim, lit. "plants of pleasantness," in Is. xvii.10, from na'em "was pleasant"). Sea anemone is from 1773.

anent (prep.) --- 1220, onont "on level with," also "in the company of, fronting against," from O.E. on efn "on even (ground) with;" the parasitic -t added 12c. A northern form (in Midlands, anenst, with adverbial genitive), affected by English writers in Scottish sense of "in respect or reference to." Cf. Ger. neben "near to, by the side of," short for in eben, from O.H.G. ebani "equality."

anesthesia --- 1721, "loss of feeling," from Gk. anaisthesia "lack of sensation," from an- "without" + aisthesis "feeling," from PIE base *au- "to perceive" (see audience). Anaesthetic "agent that produces anesthesia" first used in modern sense 1848 by Sir J.Y. Simpson, discoverer of chloroform.

aneurysm --- 1611, from Gk. aneurysmos "dilation," from aneurynein "to dilate," from ana- "up" + eurynein "widen," from eurys "broad."

anew --- from O.E. of-niowe (c.975).

anfractuous --- 1621, from L. anfractuous, from anfractus "a winding," from am(bi)- "around" + frangere "to break" (see fraction).

angel --- 14c. fusion of O.E. engel (with hard -g-) and O.Fr. angele, both from L. angelus, from Gk. angelos "messenger," possibly related to angaros "mounted courier," both from an unknown Oriental source, perhaps related to Skt. ajira- "swift." Used in Scriptural translations for Heb. mal'akh (yehowah) "messenger (of Jehovah)," from base l-'-k "to send." The medieval gold coin (a new issue of the noble, first struck 1465 by Edward VI) was so called for the image of archangel Michael slaying the dragon, which was stamped on it. It was the coin given to patients who had been "touched" for the King's Evil. Angel food cake is from 1881; angel dust "phencyclidine" is from 1968. Angel-fish (1668) was so called for its "wings."

Angeleno --- resident or native of Los Angeles, 1888, from Amer. Sp. Angeleño.

Angelica --- fem. proper name, from L., fem. of angelicus "angelic" (see angel).

anger --- v. c.1200, from O.N. angra "to grieve, vex;" n. c.1250, from O.N. angr "distress, grief," from P.Gmc. *angus (cf. O.E. enge "narrow, painful," M.Du. enghe, Goth. aggwus "narrow"), from PIE base *angh- "stretch round, tight, painfully constricted, painful" (cf. Skt. amhu- "narrow," amhah "anguish;" Armenian anjuk "narrow;" Lith. ankstas "narrow;" Gk. ankhein "to squeeze," ankhone "a strangling;" L. angere "to throttle, torment;" O.Ir. cum-ang "straitness, want"). In M.E., also of physical pain.

Angevin --- 1653, "of or pertaining to the Fr. province of Anjou," from Fr. Angevin, from M.L. Andegavinus, from Andegavum "Anger," city in France, capital of Anjou (L. Andegavia). In Eng. history, of the Plantagenet kings (beginning with Henry II) who were descended from Geoffrey, count of Anjou, and Matilda, daughter of Henry I.

angina --- 1578, from L. angina "infection of the throat," from Gk. ankhone "a strangling" (see anger). Angina pectoris is from 1744, from L. pectoris, gen. of pectus "chest."

angio- --- prefeix, now usually meaning "covered by a seed or blood vessel," from Gk. angeion "a vessel," dim. of angos "chest, box," of unknown origin. Angiosperm was coined 1690 (as Mod.L. Angiospermae) by Paul Hermann.

Angle --- member of a Teutonic tribe, O.E., from L. Angli "the Angles," lit. "people of Angul" (O.N. Öngull), a region in what is now Holstein, said to be so-called for its hook-like shape. People from the tribe there founded the kingdoms of Mercia, Northumbia, and East Anglia in 5c. Britain. Their name, rather than the Saxons or Jutes, may have become the common one for the whole group of Gmc. tribes because their dialect was the first committed to writing. Both anglomania (1787) and anglophobia (1793) are first attested in writings of Thomas Jefferson.

angle (n.) --- intersecting lines, c.1384, from L. angulum (nom. angulus) "corner," a dim. form from PIE base *ang-/*ank- "to bend" (cf. Gk. ankylos "bent, crooked," L. ang(u)ere "to compress in a bend, fold, strangle," O.C.S. aglu "corner," Lith. anka "loop," Skt. ankah "hook, bent," O.E. ancleo "ankle," O.H.G. ango "hook").