ancillary

C2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˈæn.səˌlɛɹ.i/ UK /ænˈsɪl.ə.ɹiː/ See IPA manual

Freq #54286

Meanings

1

adj
furnishing added support

An ancillary pump.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · furnishing added support adjunct

More auxiliary subsidiary supplemental supplementary supporting

Word family

Forms ancillaries

Appears in

Phrases (1)

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ancillary support
additional assistance that supplements the main work or service

Adjective + noun

Simplified etymology

Ancillary, now meaning “supporting” or “subordinate,” comes from Latin ancilla, “maidservant.” English had the related form ancille with that literal meaning in the late Middle English period, while ancillary appeared in the mid-17th century.

Etymology

From Latin ancillāris (“ancillary; relating to maids”), from ancilla (“maid”).

ancillāris Latin

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Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

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