anceps

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin anceps (literally “double-headed”).

Noun

anceps (plural ancipites)

1. (poetry, Greek and Latin meter) A syllable that can be either short or long.

Anagrams

• Capens, n space, n-space, pances, pecans

Etymology

From ambo (“both”) +‎ -ceps (“headed”), from caput (“head”).

Pronunciation

• (Classical) IPA^(key): /ˈan.keps/, [ˈaŋ.kɛps]

Adjective

anceps (genitive ancipitis); third declension

1. double-headed, having two heads
2. (of mountains) having two summits or peaks
3. (of swords) double-edged
4. divided into two parts
5. wavering, doubtful, uncertain
6. dangerous, hazardous

References

• anceps in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
• anceps in Charlton T. Lewis (1891) An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers
• anceps in Charles du Fresne du Cange’s Glossarium Mediæ et Infimæ Latinitatis (augmented edition, 1883–1887)
• anceps in Gaffiot, Félix (1934) Dictionnaire Illustré Latin-Français, Hachette
• Carl Meissner; Henry William Auden (1894) Latin Phrase-Book‎, London: Macmillan and Co.
  • the changes and chances of this life: ancipites et varii casus
    
  • the issue of the battle is undecided: proelium anceps est
    
  • the issue of the battle is undecided: ancipiti Marte pugnatur
    
  • the issue of the day was for a long time uncertain: diu anceps stetit pugna