Amphibole
(Am"phi*bole) n. [Gr. 'amfi`bolos doubtful, equivocal, fr. 'amfiba`llein to throw round, to
doubt: cf. F. amphibole. Haüy so named the genus from the great variety of color and composition assumed
by the mineral.] (Min.) A common mineral embracing many varieties varying in color and in composition.
It occurs in monoclinic crystals; also massive, generally with fibrous or columnar structure. The color
varies from white to gray, green, brown, and black. It is a silicate of magnesium and calcium, with usually
aluminium and iron. Some common varieties are tremolite, actinolite, asbestus, edenite, hornblende
(the last name being also used as a general term for the whole species). Amphibole is a constituent of
many crystalline rocks, as syenite, diorite, most varieties of trachyte, etc. See Hornblende.
Amphibolic
(Am`phi*bol"ic) a.
1. Of or pertaining to amphiboly; ambiguous; equivocal.
2. Of or resembling the mineral amphibole.
Amphibological
(Am*phib`o*log"ic*al) a. Of doubtful meaning; ambiguous. "Amphibological expressions."
Jer. Taylor.
— Am*phib`o*log"ic*al*ly, adv.
Amphibology
(Am`phi*bol"o*gy) n.; pl. Amphibologies (- jiz). [L. amphibologia, for amphibolia, fr.
Gr. 'amfiboli`a, with the ending -logia as if fr. Gr. 'amfi`bolos ambiguous + lo`gos speech: cf. F. amphibologie.
See Amphiboly.] A phrase, discourse, or proposition, susceptible of two interpretations; and hence, of
uncertain meaning. It differs from equivocation, which arises from the twofold sense of a single term.
Amphibolous
(Am*phib"o*lous) a. [L. amphibolus, Gr. thrown about, doubtful. See Amphibole.]
1. Ambiguous; doubtful. [Obs.]
Never was there such an amphibolous quarrel — both parties declaring themselves for the king.
Howell.
2. (Logic) Capable of two meanings.
An amphibolous sentence is one that is capable of two meanings, not from the double sense of any of
the words, but from its admitting of a double construction; e. g., "The duke yet lives that Henry shall
depose."
Whately.
Amphiboly
(Am*phib"o*ly) n.; pl. Amphibolies [L. amphibolia, Gr. : cf. OE. amphibolie. See Amphibolous.]
Ambiguous discourse; amphibology.
If it oracle contrary to our interest or humor, we will create an amphiboly, a double meaning where there
is none.
Whitlock.
Amphibrach
(Am"phi*brach) n. [L. Gr. short at both ends; 'amfi` + brachy`s short.] (Anc. Pros.) A
foot of three syllables, the middle one long, the first and last short (&ssmile — &ssmile); as, habere. In
modern prosody the accented syllable takes the place of the long and the unaccented of the short; as,
pro-phet'b6ic.
Amphicarpic
(Am`phi*car"pic Am`phi*car"pous) a. 'amfi` + karpo`s fruit.]—> (Bot.) Producing fruit of
two kinds, either as to form or time of ripening.
Amphichroic
(Am`phi*chro"ic) a. [Gr. 'amfi` + color.] (Chem.) Exhibiting or producing two colors, as
substances which in the color test may change red litmus to blue and blue litmus to red.
Amphicœlian
(Am`phi*cœ"li*an Am`phi*cœ"lous) a. [Gr. hollowed all round; 'amfi` + hollow.] (Zoöl.) Having
both ends concave; biconcave; — said of vertebræ.
