atavisms
|ˈæt-ə-vɪz-əm|
/ˈætəˌvɪzəm/
(atavism)
ancestral reappearance
Etymology
'atavism' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'atavus', where 'atavus' meant 'ancestor' (forefather).
'atavism' came into English via Medieval/Modern Latin 'atavismus' (and influenced by French 'atavisme'), eventually becoming the English word 'atavism' in the 19th century.
Initially it referred specifically to biological reappearance of ancestral traits, but over time it broadened to include figurative uses meaning a return to earlier behaviors or states.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a reappearance of a trait or characteristic typical of an ancestor, often used in biology to describe an organism showing ancestral features not seen in recent generations.
The paleontologists documented several atavisms in the fossil record that suggested a re-emergence of ancestral features.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Noun 2
a throwback in behavior, style, or practice — a return to an earlier, often less advanced, state in cultural or social contexts.
Critics argued that the new law contained political atavisms that moved society backward rather than forward.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Noun 3
a rare occurrence or anomaly in which an earlier form or structure reappears, used more generally for unexpected returns of past traits.
Veterinarians reported atavisms such as extra toes and primitive dentition in a small number of animals.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/11/09 15:52