amphisbaena

See also:Amphisbaena,andamphisbæna

English

Alternative forms

• amphisbæna

Etymology

FromLatinamphisbaena,fromAncient Greekἀμφίσβαινα(amphísbaina,fromἀμφίς(amphís,“both ways”)+‎βαίνω(baínō,“I go”)).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key):/æmfɪsˈbiːnə/

Noun

amphisbaena(pluralamphisbaenas)

1. (mythology)A mythicalserpenthaving a head at each end of its body, able to move in either direction.
   • 1971:What do you call that animal that goes backward and forward, head at each end? —'Amphisbaena'. A kind of lizard. It doesn't exist. — Anthony Burgess,M/F(Penguin 2004, p. 109)
2. A member of a genus oflizards,native to the Americas, having extremities which are very similar.

Derived terms

• amphisbaenic

Translations

mythical serpent having a head at each end of its body

• Armenian:ամֆիսբենա(amfisbena)
• Catalan:amfisbenaf
• French:amphisbène(fr)m
• Italian:anfesibena(it)f
• Portuguese:anfisbenaf
• Punjabi:ਦੁਮੂੰਹੀf(dumū̃hī)
• Russian:амфисбена(ru)f(amfisbena),амфисбеныfpl(amfisbeny)

any of the genusAmphisbaenaof legless lizards

• French:amphisbène(fr)m
• Portuguese:anfisbenaf