also amoebean, "alternating, answering alternately," 1650s, from Greek amoibē "change, alteration; exchange" (see amoeba) + -an.
Entries linking to amoebaean
amoeba n.
type of microscopic protozoa, 1855, from Modern Latin Amoeba, genus name (1841 in English, said to have been used 1830 by German naturalist Christian Ehrenberg), from Greek amoibē "change, alteration; exchange," which is related to ameibein "to change, exchange" (from an extended form of PIE root *mei- (1) "to change, go, move"). So called for its constantly changing shape. An earlier popular name for it was proteus (1660s). Related: Amoebic; amoebiform; amoeboid.
-an
word-forming element meaning "pertaining to," from Latin -anus, adjective suffix, in some cases via French -ain, -en. From PIE *-no-.