amphisbaena
9.9
A mythical snake with a head at each end of its body
- noun
- /ˌæmfɪsˈbiːnə/
- Archaic
:
amfisbaena
- In ancient texts, the amphisbaena is depicted as a serpent with a head at both ends.
Examples
-
Legend says that the amphisbaena can move forward and backward because it has two heads.
-
The amphisbaena was often described as a creature of great power in Greek mythology.
-
Engelram's amphisbaena.
Compounds
Surface Forms
amphisbaena singular
amphisbaenae plural
Morphology
amphisbaena = amphi + baena
Although historically analyzable into Greek combining forms (amphi- 'both' + -baena 'going'), the term is a classical borrowing and its meaning is not transparently derivable by an average B1 learner from those components.
Etymology
Amphisbaena comes from Greek parts amphi- meaning 'both' and bainein meaning 'to go'. Like amphibian, the 'amphi-' part tells you 'both', so a legendary amphisbaena is a snake that can move or strike from either end, which explains its two heads.
