— amphisbaenian, amphisbaenic, amphisbaenoid, amphisbaenous , adj.
/am'feuhs bee"neuh/ , n. , pl. amphisbaenae /-nee/ , amphisbaenas .
1. any of numerous worm lizards of the genus Amphisbaena.
2. Class. Myth. a serpent having a head at each end of its body and the ability to move forward or backward.
[ 1350-1400; ME amphibena amphísbaina a serpent that moves forward or backward, equiv. to amphís both ways + baín ( ein ) to go + -a n. suffix ]