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atavism

   Also found in: Medical, Legal, Financial, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia, Hutchinson 0.02 sec.
at·a·vism  (t-vzm)
n.
1. The reappearance of a characteristic in an organism after several generations of absence, usually caused by the chance recombination of genes.
2. An individual or a part that exhibits atavism. Also called throwback.
3. The return of a trait or recurrence of previous behavior after a period of absence.

[French atavisme, from Latin atavus, ancestor : atta, father + avus, grandfather; see awo- in Indo-European roots.]

ata·vist n.
ata·vistic adj.
ata·visti·cal·ly adv.

atavism [ˈætəˌvɪzəm]
n
1. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Biology) the recurrence in a plant or animal of certain primitive characteristics that were present in an ancestor but have not occurred in intermediate generations
2. reversion to a former or more primitive type
[from French atavisme, from Latin atavus strictly: great-grandfather's grandfather, probably from atta daddy + avus grandfather]
atavist  n
atavic  [əˈtævɪk] adj

atavism
the reappearance in the present of a characteristic belonging to a remote ancestor. — atavist, n. — atavistic, adj.
See also: Ancestors
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.atavism - a reappearance of an earlier characteristic
recurrence, return - happening again (especially at regular intervals); "the return of spring"
Translations
atavism [ˈætəvɪzəm] Natavismo m
atavism
nAtavismus m


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? Mentioned in ? References in classic literature
 
In our day we have progressed to a point where such sentiments mark weakness and atavism.
Perhaps some deeprooted atavism urges the wanderer back to lands which his ancestors left in the dim beginnings of history.
What to you the friendship of Lop-Ear, the warm lure of the Swift One, the lust and the atavism of Red-Eye?
 
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