anceps

Meaning

1. one terminationdouble-headed, having two heads
2. one terminationhaving two summits or peaks
3. one terminationfacing in two directions
   Romanis etsi quietae res ex Etruria nuntiabantur, tamen quia omnibus conciliis eam rem 9agitari adferebatur, ita muniebant ut ancipitia munimenta essent: alia in urbem et contra oppidanorum eruptiones versa, aliis frons in Etruriam spectans, auxiliis si qua forte inde venirent obstruebatur.1924 translation by B. O. Foster Although the Romans got word that things were quiet in Etruria, still, because they heard that this question came up at all their meetings, they so constructed their works as to have a double fortification, one facing Veii, to oppose the sallies of the townsfolk, the other confronting Etruria, to shut off any assistance that might come from thence.27 BCE – 25 BCE, Titus Livius, Ab urbe condita 5.1.9
4. one terminationcoming from two directions
   Vias patentes inter manipulos ante-signanorum velitibus—ea tunc levis armatura erat—complevit, dato praecepto ut ad impetum elephantorum aut post directos refugerent ordines aut in dextram laevamque discursu applicantes se antesignanis3 viam qua inruerent in ancipitia tela beluis darent.1949 translation by Frank Gardner Moore The open passages between the maniples of the front line troops Scipio filled with velites, the light-armed of that day, under orders that, upon the charge of the elephants, they should either flee behind the ranks in the line, or else dashing to right and left and closing up to the maniples in the van, should give the beasts an opening through which they might rush among missiles hurled from both sides.27 BCE – 25 BCE, Titus Livius, Ab urbe condita 30.33.3
   ...cum duobus in locis disiunctissimis maximeque diversis uno consilio a binis hostium copiis bellum terra marique gereretur, vos ancipiti contentione districti......war being waged with the forces of enemies in two of the most remote and separated places, by land and sea, with a united plan, you, stretched by a two-sided struggle...69 BCE, Cicero, De Imperio Cn. Pompei 4, 9
5. one terminationdouble-edged
6. one terminationdivided into two parts
7. one terminationwavering, doubtful, uncertain, dubious, shady
8. one terminationdangerous, hazardous

Latīnē defined in Latin in our graded readers

Choosing the right word Döderlein's Latin Synonyms

Declension

Phrases from Meissner's Latin Phrase-Book

proelium anceps est

the issue of the battle is undecided.

ancipiti Marte pugnatur

the issue of the battle is undecided.

diu anceps stetit pugna

the issue of the day was for a long time uncertain.

ancipites et varii casus

the changes and chances of this life.

Origins

From ambo (“both”) + -ceps (“headed”), from caput (“head”).

In English words that came into English from anceps

• ancipitalanceps
• ancepsanceps