Part 227

Am*phis"to*mous (&?;), a. [Gr. &?; + &?; mouth.] (Zoöl.) Having a sucker at each extremity, as certain entozoa, by means of which they adhere.

Am`phi*sty"lic (&?;), a. [Gr. &?; + &?; pillar, support.] (Anat.) Having the mandibular arch articulated with the hyoid arch and the cranium, as in the cestraciont sharks; -- said of a skull.

{ Am`phi*the"a*ter, Am`phi*the"a*tre, } (&?;), n. [L. amphitheatrum, fr. Gr. &?;; &?; + &?; theater: cf. F. amphithéâtre. See Theater.] 1. An oval or circular building with rising tiers of seats about an open space called the arena.

The Romans first constructed amphitheaters for combats of gladiators and wild beasts.

2. Anything resembling an amphitheater in form; as, a level surrounded by rising slopes or hills, or a rising gallery in a theater.

Am`phi*the"a*tral (&?;), a. [L. amphitheatralis: cf. F. amphithéâtral.] Amphitheatrical; resembling an amphitheater.

{ Am`phi*the*at"ric (&?;), Am`phi*the*at"ric*al (&?;), } a. [L. amphitheatricus.] Of, pertaining to, exhibited in, or resembling, an amphitheater.

Am`phi*the*at"ric*al*ly, adv. In the form or manner of an amphitheater.

||Am*phit"ro*cha (m*ft"rk), n. [NL., fr. Gr. 'amfi` + trocho`s a wheel.] (Zoöl.) A kind of annelid larva having both a dorsal and a ventral circle of special cilia.

{ Am*phit"ro*pal (-pal), Am*phit"ro*pous (- ps), } a. [Gr. 'amfi` + tre`pein to turn.] (Bot.) Having the ovule inverted, but with the attachment near the middle of one side; half anatropous.

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||Am`phi*u"ma (m`f*"m), n. (Zoöl.) A genus of amphibians, inhabiting the Southern United States, having a serpentlike form, but with four minute limbs and two persistent gill openings; the Congo snake.

Am`pho*pep"tone (&?;), n. [Gr. &?; + E. peptone.] (Physiol.) A product of gastric digestion, a mixture of hemipeptone and antipeptone.

||Am"pho*ra (&?;), n.; pl. Amophoræ (&?;). [L., fr. Gr. &?;, &?;, a jar with two handles; &?; + &?; bearer, &?; to bear. Cf. Ampul.] Among the ancients, a two-handled vessel, tapering at the bottom, used for holding wine, oil, etc.

Am"pho*ral (&?;), a. [L. amphoralis.] Pertaining to, or resembling, an amphora.

Am*phor"ic (&?;), a. (Med.) Produced by, or indicating, a cavity in the lungs, not filled, and giving a sound like that produced by blowing into an empty decanter; as, amphoric respiration or resonance.

Am`pho*ter"ic (&?;), a. [Gr. &?; both.] Partly one and partly the other; neither acid nor alkaline; neutral. [R.] Smart.

Am"ple (&?;), a. [F. ample, L. amplus, prob. for ambiplus full on both sides, the last syllable akin to L. plenus full. See Full, and cf. Double.] Large; great in size, extent, capacity, or bulk; spacious; roomy; widely extended.

All the people in that ample house Did to that image bow their humble knees. Spenser.

2. Fully sufficient; abundant; liberal; copious; as, an ample fortune; ample justice.

3. Not contracted of brief; not concise; extended; diffusive; as, an ample narrative. Johnson.

Syn. -- Full; spacious; extensive; wide; capacious; abundant; plentiful; plenteous; copious; bountiful; rich; liberal; munificent. -- Ample, Copious, Abundant, Plenteous. These words agree in representing a thing as large, but under different relations, according to the image which is used. Ample implies largeness, producing a sufficiency or fullness of supply for every want; as, ample stores or resources, ample provision. Copious carries with it the idea of flow, or of collection at a single point; as, a copious supply of materials. "Copious matter of my song." Milton. Abundant and plenteous refer to largeness of quantity; as, abundant stores; plenteous harvests.

Am*plec"tant (&?;), a. [L. amplecti to embrace.] (Bot.) Clasping a support; as, amplectant tendrils. Gray.

Am"ple*ness (&?;), n. The state or quality of being ample; largeness; fullness; completeness.

Am`plex*a"tion (&?;), n. [L. amplexari to embrace.] An embrace. [Obs.]

An humble amplexation of those sacred feet. Bp. Hall.

Am*plex"i*caul (&?;), a. [L. amplexus, p. p. of amplecti to encircle, to embrace + caulis stem: cf. F. amplexicaule.] (Bot.) Clasping or embracing a stem, as the base of some leaves. Gray.

Am"pli*ate (&?;), v. t. [L. ampliatus, p. p. of ampliare to make wider, fr. amplus. See Ample.] To enlarge. [R.]