indigenous definition | Dictionary.com

in⋅dig⋅e⋅nous

[in-dij-uh-nuh

–adjective

1.	originating in and characteristic of a particular region or country; native (often fol. by to): the plants indigenous to Canada; the indigenous peoples of southern Africa.

2.	innate; inherent; natural (usually fol. by to): feelings indigenous to human beings.

Origin:
1640–50; < L indigen(a) native, original inhabitant (indi-, by-form of in- in- ² (cf. indagate ) + -gena, deriv. from base of gignere to bring into being; cf. genital, genitor ) + -ous

Related forms:

in⋅dig⋅e⋅nous⋅ly, adverb

in⋅dig⋅e⋅nous⋅ness, in⋅di⋅gen⋅i⋅ty [in-di-jen-i-tee]

, noun

Synonyms:
1. autochthonous, aboriginal, natural.

Antonyms:
1. foreign, alien.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Link To indigenous

in·dig·e·nous (ĭn-dĭj'ə-nəs)

adj.

Originating and living or occurring naturally in an area or environment. See Synonyms at native.
Intrinsic; innate.

[From Latin indigena, a native; see indigen.]
in·dig'e·nous·ly adv., in·dig'e·nous·ness n.

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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Indigenous

In*dig"e*nous\, a. [L. indigenus, indigena, fr. OL. indu (fr. in in) + the root of L. gignere to beget, bear. See In, and Gender.]

1. Native; produced, growing, or living, naturally in a country or climate; not exotic; not imported.

Negroes were all transported from Africa and are not indigenous or proper natives of America. --Sir T. Browne.

In America, cotton, being indigenous, is cheap. --Lion Playas.

2. Native; inherent; innate.

Joy and hope are emotions indigenous to the human mind. --I. Taylor.

indigenous

1646, from L.L. indigenus "born in a country, native," from L. indigena "a native," lit. "in-born person," from Old L. indu "in, within" (earlier endo) + gen-, root of gignere (perf. genui) "beget," from PIE *gen- "produce."

Main Entry: in·dig·e·nous
Pronunciation: in-'dij-&-n&s
Function: adjective
1 : having originated in and being produced,growing, or living naturally in a particular region or environment indigenous to the tropics> indigenous enteric bacteria —C.M. Kunin et al>
2 : being inborn or innate indigenous to human beings> —in·dig·e·nous·ly adverb

indigenous (ĭn-dĭj'ə-nəs) Pronunciation Key
Native to a particular region or environment but occurring naturally in other places as well. The American black bear is indigenous to many different parts of North America. Compare alien , endemic.

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