Amphiscian

Amphiscian

Amphiscians, or Amphiscii, is a name given to inhabitants of the torrid zone, whose shadows in one part of the year are cast to the north, and in the other to the south, according as the sun is south or north of their zenith.

The word comes from the Greek "αμφι" ("about"), and "σχια" ("shadow").

The Amphiscians were also called Ascii. This term related specifically to those inhabitants of the globe, which, at certain times of the year, have no shadow. The word is formed of the privative particle "α", and "σχια", ("umbra", "shadow").

References

*1728
*Noah Webster's 1828 Dictionary.


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • amphiscian — /am fishˈi ən/ noun An inhabitant of the torrid zone, whose shadow is thrown both ways, ie northwards one part of the year, and southwards the other part (also adjective) ORIGIN: Gr amphiskios, from amphi both ways, and skiā a shadow …   Useful english dictionary

  • amphiscian —   n. & a. (inhabitant) of tropics, whose shadow falls in different ways according to the time of year …   Dictionary of difficult words

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