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indigenous

 - 4 dictionary results

in⋅dig⋅e⋅nous

  [in-dij-uh-nuhs]
Use indigenous in a Sentence
–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.
Cite This Source Link To indigenous
in·dig·e·nous   (ĭn-dĭj'ə-nəs)   
adj.  

  1. Originating and living or occurring naturally in an area or environment. See Synonyms at native.

  2. 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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Word Origin & History

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."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

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
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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