ambi-, amb-, ambo- +

(Latin: both, on both sides; around, about)


ambiance
1. The mood, character, quality, tone, atmosphere, etc., particularly of an environment or milieu: "The seaside resort had a delightful ambiance."
2. Anything which surrounds or encompasses; environment.
3. The special atmosphere or mood created by a particular environment.
A neighborhood shows the environment or ambiance in which a boy lives.
Word Info image © Copyright, 2006.

ambiciliate
A reference to fish that have scales on both sides of the body minutely toothed along the edges.
ambicolorate
A reference to flat-fishes abnormally colored on both sides instead of having the under side white.
ambidexter
1. The ability to use either hand with equal skill.
2. General skillfulness, especially with the hands; very skillful and versatile; using both hands with equal facility.
3. A double-dealer; one who is equally ready to act on either side in party disputes.
ambidexterity
1. The ability to use either hand with equal skill.
2. General skillfulness, especially with the hands; very skillful and versatile; using both hands with equal facility.
A man displays his ambidexterity by writing with both hands at the same time.
Word Info image © Copyright, 2006.

ambidextrous, ambidextrously, ambidextrousness
1. Able to use both hands with equal facility.
2. Unusually skillful; adroit.
3. Deceptive or hypocritical.
4. Etymology: the word ambidextrous is derived from the Latin roots ambi, "both" and dexter, "right" (as opposed to left) or "favorable"; therefore, ambidextrous literally means "right on both sides".

Ambidexterity refers to being equally adept with each hand (or, to a limited degree, feet).

A person is ambidextrous when his left hand knows what his right hand is doing.
—Anonymous
ambience
1. The typical atmosphere or mood of a place.
2. The surrounding area or environment: "The hand recorder picked up too many ambient noises."
3. Completely surrounding; encompassing: such as, the ambient air or the ambience of the neighborhood.
ambient
1. In the immediately surrounding area; encircling.
2. The environment; the encompassing area.
ambiguity
1. A situation in which something can be understood in more than one way and it is not clear which meaning is intended.
2. An expression or statement that has more than one meaning.
3. Causing uncertainty or confusion.
ambiguous, ambiguousness
1. Open to or having several possible meanings or interpretations; equivocal: "She gave us an ambiguous answer instead of a clear explanation."
2. Of a doubtful or uncertain nature; difficult to comprehend, to distinguish, or to classify: "We found a rock with ambiguous features."
3. Lacking clearness or definiteness; obscure; indistinct: "With all of the wars going on, we seem to have an ambiguous future."
4. Etymology: from Latin ambiguus, "having double meaning, shifting, changeable, doubtful"; derived from ambigere, "to dispute about"; literally, "to wander"; from ambi-, "about" + agere, "to drive, to lead, to act".

Ambivalent refers to people and their attitudes while ambiguous refers to something said or written.

A speaker confuses a man with an ambiguous statement.
Word Info image © Copyright, 2006.

Word History

Latin amb-, "about, around," combined with agere, "to drive", formed ambigere, literally, "to drive around, to waver". Out of this word grew the Latin ambiguus, "hesitating, uncertain". English borrowed it as ambiguous, with the meaning "equivocal, capable of being understood in either of two or more possible senses, vague."

—Based on information from Picturesque Word Origins; published by G & C. Merriam Company;
Springfield, Massachusetts; 1933; page 15.
ambilateral
1. Affecting both the right and the left sides.
2. Pertaining to, or affecting both sides.
ambilevosity
1. The inability to perform acts requiring manual skill with either hand.
2. Left-handed on both sides; clumsy; as opposed to ambidexter.
3. Awkwardness in the use of either or both hands.
ambilevous
Awkward in the use of either hand.
ambilingualism
A reference to someone who has virtually equal command of two languages
ambiloquent
Someone who speaks with doubt or with two languages.

Related "around, round, surrounding" units: ampho-; circ-; circum-; cyclo-, -cycle; gyro-; peri-.


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