amphibian English · revision 1405

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=1637}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /æmˈfɪbɪən/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed from [[la-new|Amphibia]] (1607), the name of the class,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995) from [[grc|ἀμφίβια|tr=amphíbia]], neuter plural of [[m|grc|ἀμφίβιος|tr=amphíbios|t=living a double life]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) from [[m|grc|ἀμφί|tr=amphí|t=on both sides, of both kinds]] (see [[amphi-]]) and [[m|grc|βίος|tr=bíos|t=life]],^(AHD)^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021) with the suffix [[-an]].^(Barnhart 1995)^(RHWU) The root is [[ine-pro|*gʷei-|t=to live]].^(Etymonline)^(AHD)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ As an adjective, having two modes of existence, or of doubtful nature (1637 in the OED and Barnhart).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Zoologists formerly called any animal at home both on land and in water amphibious, including crocodiles, beavers, seals and hippopotamuses.^(Etymonline) The restriction to the class between fishes and reptiles, whose young live in water and adults on land, dates from 1835, the year the noun is first recorded.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate) The adjective sense “of the Amphibia” followed in 1847.^(OED 1989) Figuratively an amphibian is a person with a double character (1902).^(OED 1989) From 1920 the word was applied to seaplanes, tanks and other vehicles that work on both land and water.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1637 – adjective, having two modes of existence.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1835 – noun, a member of the Amphibia.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1847 – adjective, of the Amphibia.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1902 – a person of double character.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1920 – an aircraft or vehicle for land and water.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A cold-blooded, smooth-skinned [[vertebrate]] of the class Amphibia, such as a [[frog]], [[toad]], [[newt]] or [[salamander]], which typically hatches as an aquatic larva with gills and becomes an air-breathing adult.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Any animal or plant able to live both on land and in water.^(AHD)^(RHWU)^(MWU 2024)

+ # An aircraft that can take off from and land on either land or water.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A vehicle able to travel both on land and in water.^(AHD)^(RHWU)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Of or belonging to the Amphibia.^(Collins 2023)^(MWU 2024)

+ # [[amphibious|alt=Amphibious]].^(Collins 2023)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[nonamphibian]]

+ * [[triphibian]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[amphi-]]

+ * [[Amphibia]]

+ * [[amphibiotic]]

+ * [[amphibious]]

+ * [[bio-]]

+ * [[biology]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}