ancile

[ an-sahy-lee, ahng-kee-ley ]

noun

, Roman Religion.

, plural an·cil·i·a [an-, sil, -ee-, uh, ahng-, kil, -].

1. a shield given by Mars to Numa Pompilius as the palladium of Rome.
2. any of 11 counterfeits of this shield, carried with it on ceremonial occasions.

Word History and Origins

Origin of ancile¹

1590–1600; < Latin ancīle, traditionally said to be equivalent to an- (variant of ambi- ambi- before c- ) + -cīle ( -cīd- combining form of caed ( ere ) to cut ( -cide ) + *-sl- noun suffix + -e, earlier *-i, stem vowel for compounds), referring to the deep indentations in the waist of the shield

Example Sentences

Atque sole orto delabitur e caelo scisso scutum, quod ancile appellavit Numa.

From Project Gutenberg

The first Ancile was supposed to have fallen from heaven in answer to the prayer of Numa Pompilius.

From Project Gutenberg

Shortly after, Julian plainly accuses Christians of worshipping the wood of the Cross, though they refused to worship the ancile.

From Project Gutenberg