Lexic.us

Definition of Atavism

1. Noun. A reappearance of an earlier characteristic.

Definition of Atavism

1. n. The recurrence, or a tendency to a recurrence, of the original type of a species in the progeny of its varieties; resemblance to remote rather than to near ancestors; reversion to the original form.

Definition of Atavism

1. Noun. The reappearance of an ancestral characteristic in an organism after several generations of absence. ¹

2. Noun. The recurrence or reversion to a past behaviour, method, characteristic or style after a long period of absence. ¹

3. Noun. (sociology) Reversion to past primitive behavior, especially violence. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Atavism

1. the reappearance of a genetic characteristic after several generations of absence [n -S]

Medical Definition of Atavism

1. The recurrence, or a tendency to a recurrence, of the original type of a species in the progeny of its varieties; resemblance to remote rather than to near ancestors; reversion to the original form. The recurrence of any peculiarity or disease of an ancestor in a subsequent generation, after an intermission for a generation or two. "Now and then there occur cases of what physiologists call atavism, or reversion to an ancestral type of character." (J. Fiske) Origin: L. Atavus an ancestor, fr. Avus a grandfather. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Atavism

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