amphiscians

[ am-fish-ee-uhnz, -fish-uhnz ]

plural noun

, Archaic.

1. inhabitants of the tropics.

Word History and Origins

Origin of amphiscians¹

1615–25; < Medieval Latin Amphisci ( ī ) (< Greek amphískioi, plural of amphískios (adj.) casting a shadow both ways, equivalent to amphi- amphi- + skí ( a ) shadow + -os adj. suffix) + -ans, plural of -an

Example Sentences

Amphiscians, am-fish′i-anz, n.pl. the inhabitants of the torrid zone, whose shadows are thrown both ways—that is, to the north one part of the year, and to the south the other part, according as the sun is north or south of the equator.

From Project Gutenberg