1. Plural of ancilla; female servants or handmaids, especially in historical or literary contexts.
Usage: archaic; literary; from Latin
2. In philosophy and theology, auxiliary or subordinate disciplines or tools that support a primary field of study.
Usage: formal; academic

Examples

• The Roman household included ancillas who performed domestic duties.
• In medieval convents, ancillas served under the direction of senior sisters.
• Grammar was considered one of the ancillas to theology in scholastic education.
• The ancillas in the household were responsible for cooking and cleaning.
• Medieval scholars viewed logic as an ancilla to philosophy.