ancilla

[ an-sil-uh ]

noun

, plural an·cil·las.

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of ancilla¹

First recorded in 1870–75; from Latin: literally, “handmaid,” diminutive of ancula “maid,” from unrecorded anquola, equivalent to an-, a variant of ambi- “around” + -quola, noun derivative of the root kwel-, kwol- “turn about,” hence “one who circles around”; cognate with Greek amphípolos “attendant”; ambi-, amphi-, ancile

Example Sentences

So researchers interleave the data qubits with so-called ancillary qubits and establish a quantum link called entanglement between each ancilla and its neighbors.

From Science Magazine

For example, if the measurement shows the first ancilla is 0, it reveals only that the first and second coding qubits must be in the same state, but not which state that is.

From Science Magazine

If the ancilla is 1, then the measurement reveals only that the coding qubits must be in opposite states.

From Science Magazine

“I didn’t expect this feeling of mine. So now I’m really an American citizen — and so happy about that,” said 56-year-old Ancilla Alforque Abella, a native of the Philippines.

From Seattle Times

Steenbeke, who is Ancilla College’s head golf coach, credits Walorski with “calling people I don’t have access to.”

From Washington Times