atavism
|at/a/vism|
C1
/ˈætəˌvɪzəm/
ancestral reappearance
Etymology
Etymology Information
'atavism' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'atavus,' where 'atavus' meant 'ancestor.'
Historical Evolution
'atavus' transformed into the French word 'atavisme,' and eventually became the modern English word 'atavism' through Middle English.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'ancestor,' but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'reappearance of ancestral traits.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the reappearance of a characteristic in an organism after several generations of absence, typically due to genetic recombination.
The scientist observed atavism in the plant species, where traits from ancestors reappeared.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:42