ancillary (adj) - providing auxiliary or secondary support to primary activities, objectives, or operation; serving as a supplement or addition [an-suh-ler-ee]
an ancillary is someone in a supporting role or something in a position of secondary importance
an ancilla is an aid to achieving or mastering something difficult
BREAKDOWN: The word ancillary may be somewhat common and generally applicable in English, but it originates from a rare and specific Latin term: ancilla meaning a female servant or handmaid. Ancilla itself is based on the Latin anculus meaning servant, which derives from the root CYCL- meaning around in words like bicycle and cyclone. Which is to say, an ancillary bustles, works, or revolves around a central figure.
See also: encyclopedia
“Which kinds of decisions are premature? Decisions that have nothing to do with the business requirements—the use cases—of the system... A good system architecture is one in which decisions like these are rendered ancillary and deferrable. A good system architecture does not depend on those decisions. A good system architecture allows those decisions to be made at the latest possible moment, without significant impact.” —Robert C. Martin
[Our Wednesday Wildcards are fascinating and important words that are not necessarily derived from classic roots.]