Amphibious
/ˌæm.fɪˈbɪə.səs/noun
Able to live both on land and in water.
Did you know?Its root, Greek *amphi-* (“on both sides”), also appears in words like *amphitheater* and *amphora*, where the idea is always enclosure, surrounding, or duality.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
amphíbios (ἀμφίβιος)
“living both ways; living on land and in water”
Late Latin
Latin
amphibius
“living both on land and in water”
Middle French
Old French
amphibie
“amphibious; having a double life in water and on land”
16th Century
English
amphibious
“living or able to live both on land and in water”
Modern English
English
amphibious
“able to function on land and in water”
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