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indigenous

 - 5 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.
Cite This Source
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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Science Dictionary
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.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
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