Etymograph

English

ancipital

Ancipital comes from Latin anceps ‘double-headed, having two heads’, from ambo ‘both’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *kap- ‘head’.

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*kap-‘head’reconstructed
  2. Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*káput‘head’reconstructed
  3. Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*kaput‘head’reconstructed
  4. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEcaput‘head’
  5. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEambo‘both’
  6. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEanceps‘double-headed, having two heads’
  7. Englishearliest quotation 1988ancipital

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Lineage

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*kap-‘head’reconstructed
  2. Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*káput‘head’reconstructed
  3. Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*kaput‘head’reconstructed
  4. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEcaput‘head’
  5. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEambo‘both’
  6. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEanceps‘double-headed, having two heads’
  7. Englishearliest quotation 1988ancipital

Earliest quotation: 1988, Thomas Fleiner-Gerster, Modern Constitution: “This ancipital character of a constitution raises the problem…”

Linked words

through Proto-Indo-European *kap- ‘head’

had, case, except, heavy, cash, catch, accept, receive, behavior, capable, achieve, cable, heavily, chase, capture, capacity, reception, occupation, perception, haven, behave, recipe, hawk, caption, captive, capsule, susceptible, deception, cater, chassis, recipient, captivity, cassette, deceive, anticipation, deceptive, anticipate, casket, conceive, deceit, 133 more

through Proto-Indo-European *káput ‘head’

head, 58 more

through Proto-Italic *kaput ‘head’

capitalism, capitalize, capote, escapade, capitan, capitaine, 59 more

through Latin caput ‘head’

captain, chapter, escape, capital, cape, chef, cattle, cabin, chapel, capitol, chaplain, cad, mischief, capita, mischievous, precipitation, capillary, capo, chieftain, capa, caddie, cabana, chattel, capuchin, scamper, scamp, chabot, jefe, dishevelled, capitulate, kaput, precipitate, caput, chaperon, precipitous, cabochon, occipital, 67 more

through Latin ambo ‘both’

ambo, 2 more

Today it means

adj Two-edged instead of round; said of certain flattened stems, such as those of bluegrass, and rarely also of leaves.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *kap- / ancipital

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