The AI-powered English dictionary
comparative more ancillary, superlative most ancillary
Subordinate; secondary; auxiliary. quotations examples
[…] how easily he took all things along with him,—the persons, the opinions, and the day, and nature became ancillary to a man.
1836, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Nature, Chapter 3
[E]very organ of the body, whatever function it may perform, must also perform the other four functions in an ancillary manner.
1898, John Wesley Powell, “Chapter 7”, in Truth and Error
The cafeteria is primarily used by students and staff (academic, administrative, and ancillary).
2019, Li Huang, James Lambert, “Another Arrow for the Quiver: A New Methodology for Multilingual Researchers”, in Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, page 4
plural ancillaries
Something that serves an ancillary function, such as an easel for a painter. quotations examples
Auxiliaries and ancillaries are comprehensive, and include a Westinghouse motor-driven recriprocating compressor used for locomotive braking and general service air, two rotary exhauster sets for train brakes when hauling passenger or fitted freight trains, and an oil-fired train heating boiler.
1950 November, “Mixed-Traffic Diesel-Electric Locomotives for Ireland”, in Railway Magazine, page 781
(archaic) An auxiliary.