Anchistea

noun

An·​chis·​tea

ˌaŋkiˈstēə,

aŋˈkis-

in some classifications

: a genus of ferns (family Polypodiaceae) of eastern North America including only the chain fern compare woodwardia

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin, feminine of an alleged Greek form anchisteós, probably erroneously for anchisté "related, next of kin," derivative of ánchistos "nearest," superlative adjectival derivative of anchí "near, close by," probably the locative of a root noun from the base of ánchein "to squeeze, strangle," going back to Indo-European *h₂emǵh- "narrow, constrict"; genus so named for its close affinity with the genera Woodwardia and Doodia

First Known Use

1857, in the meaning defined above

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