anatopism
|a-na-to-pism|
C2
/əˈnætəˌpɪzəm/
out of place geographically
Etymology
Etymology Information
'anatopism' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'anatopos,' where 'ana-' meant 'up, against' and 'topos' meant 'place.'
Historical Evolution
'anatopos' was adopted into English as 'anatopism' in the 19th century, modeled after the word 'anachronism.'
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'something out of place,' and this meaning has remained consistent in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
something that is out of place; especially, something located in an inappropriate or impossible geographical location.
The film contained an anatopism when a cactus appeared in a scene set in the Arctic.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/08/01 00:21