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atavism

 - 5 dictionary results

at⋅a⋅vism

  [at-uh-viz-uhm]
Use atavism in a Sentence
–noun
1. Biology.
a. the reappearance in an individual of characteristics of some remote ancestor that have been absent in intervening generations.
b. an individual embodying such a reversion.
2. reversion to an earlier type; throwback.
Origin:
1825–35; < L atav(us) remote ancestor (at-, akin to atta familiar name for a grandfather + avus grandfather, forefather) + -ism

Related forms:
at⋅a⋅vist, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To atavism
at·a·vism   (āt'ə-vĭz'əm)   
n.  

  1. The reappearance of a characteristic in an organism after several generations of absence, usually caused by the chance recombination of genes.

  2. An individual or a part that exhibits atavism. Also called throwback.

  3. The return of a trait or recurrence of previous behavior after a period of absence.


[French atavisme, from Latin atavus, ancestor : atta, father + avus, grandfather; see awo- in Indo-European roots.]
at'a·vist n., at'a·vis'tic adj., at'a·vis'ti·cal·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

atavism 
1833, from F. atavisme, coined 1830s from L. atavus "ancestor," from at- perhaps here meaning "beyond" + avus "grandfather," from PIE *awo- "adult male relative other than the father."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: at·a·vism
Pronunciation: 'at-&-"viz-&m
Function: noun
1 : recurrence in an organism of a trait or character typicalof an ancestral form and usually due to genetic recombination
2 : an individual or character manifesting atavism : THROWBACK —at·a·vis·tic /"at-&-'vis-tik/ adjective —at·a·vis·ti·cal·ly /-ti-k(&-)lE/ adverb
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

atavism at·a·vism (āt'ə-vĭz'əm)
n.
The appearance of characteristics that are presumed to have been present in some remote ancestor; reversion to an earlier biological type.

at'a·vist n.
at'a·vis'tic adj.
at'a·vis'ti·cal·ly adv.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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