atavism

[ at-uh-viz-uh m ]
/ ˈæt əˌvɪz əm /

noun

Biology.
  1. the reappearance in an individual of characteristics of some remote ancestor that have been absent in intervening generations.
  2. an individual embodying such a reversion.
reversion to an earlier type; throwback.

Origin of atavism

1825–35; < Latin atav(us) remote ancestor ( at-, akin to atta familiar name for a grandfather + avus grandfather, forefather) + -ism

OTHER WORDS FROM atavism

at·a·vist, noun

Words nearby atavism

ataraxia, atascadero, ataturk, kemal, atatürk, atavic, atavism, atavistic, ataxia, ataxia telangiectasia, ataxiaphasia, ataxic

British Dictionary definitions for atavists

atavism
/ (ˈætəˌvɪzəm) /

noun

the recurrence in a plant or animal of certain primitive characteristics that were present in an ancestor but have not occurred in intermediate generations
reversion to a former or more primitive type

Derived forms of atavism

atavist, noun atavic (əˈtævɪk), adjective

Word Origin for atavism

C19: from French atavisme, from Latin atavus strictly: great-grandfather's grandfather, probably from atta daddy + avus grandfather

Medical definitions for atavists

atavism
[ ăt′ə-vĭz′əm ]

n.

The appearance of characteristics that are presumed to have been present in some remote ancestor; reversion to an earlier biological type.

Other words from atavism

at′a•vist n. at′a•vis′tic adj.