anagenetic
|an-a-gen-et-ic|
/ˌænəˈdʒɛnətɪk/
gradual evolutionary change within a lineage
Etymology
'anagenetic' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'anagenesis,' where 'ana-' meant 'up' or 'again' and 'genesis' meant 'origin' or 'creation.'
'anagenesis' was adopted into scientific English as 'anagenetic' to describe evolutionary processes within a lineage.
Initially, it meant 'relating to the process of anagenesis,' and over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'relating to evolutionary change within a single lineage.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
relating to evolutionary change within a single lineage, especially gradual change without branching.
Anagenetic evolution occurs when a species gradually changes over time without splitting.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/07/27 03:21