atavism

noun

at·a·vism ˈa-tə-ˌvi-zəm How to pronounce atavism (audio)

: recurrence in an organism of a trait or character typical of an ancestral form and usually due to genetic recombination

: recurrence of or reversion to a past style, manner, outlook, approach, or activity

architectural atavism

: an individual or character that manifests atavism : throwback

He was a magnificent atavism, a man so purely primitive that he was of the type that came into the world before the development of the moral nature.

Jack London

atavistic

ˌa-tə-ˈvi-stik How to pronounce atavism (audio)

adjective

atavistically

ˌa-tə-ˈvi-sti-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce atavism (audio)

adverb

Did you know?

Atavism derives via French from Latin atavus, meaning "ancestor." Avus in Latin means "grandfather," and it's believed that the at is related to atta, a word for "daddy." Atavism is a term rooted in evolutionary study, referring to instances when an organism possesses traits closer to a more remote ancestor, rather than its own parents. That sense dates to the early part of the 19th century. The word's figurative sense is a more recent development. These days one might describe a building that looks like it's from an earlier era as an atavism, or (though some people might cringe at this) apply the word to activities like reading actual paper books in the age of electronics.

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web Obama crashed against a wall of atavism and paranoia.

Matthew Continetti, National Review, 29 Jan. 2022 This gives his career an arc of atavism and abnegating tragedy, a willful artist hopelessly at the mercy of his obsessions.

Jerry Saltz, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2021 This was the heyday of Cesare Lombroso’s racist theories about recognizable criminal types and Max Nordau’s study Degeneration, which spread fear of atavism and perversion.

Michael Dirda, The New York Review of Books, 28 May 2020 Because the United States has proved successful in absorbing people from so many different backgrounds, the American political elite has, since the mid-20th century at least, tended to look on group identity as a kind of irrational atavism.

Park Macdougald, Daily Intelligencer, 19 Apr. 2018

单词	atavism
释义	atavism noun at·a·vism ˈa-tə-ˌvi-zəm 1 a : recurrence in an organism of a trait or character typical of an ancestral form and usually due to genetic recombination b : recurrence of or reversion to a past style, manner, outlook, approach, or activity architectural atavism 2 : an individual or character that manifests atavism : throwback He was a magnificent atavism, a man so purely primitive that he was of the type that came into the world before the development of the moral nature. Jack London atavistic ˌa-tə-ˈvi-stik adjective atavistically ˌa-tə-ˈvi-sti-k(ə-)lē adverb Did you know? Atavism derives via French from Latin atavus, meaning "ancestor." Avus in Latin means "grandfather," and it's believed that the at is related to atta, a word for "daddy." Atavism is a term rooted in evolutionary study, referring to instances when an organism possesses traits closer to a more remote ancestor, rather than its own parents. That sense dates to the early part of the 19th century. The word's figurative sense is a more recent development. These days one might describe a building that looks like it's from an earlier era as an atavism, or (though some people might cringe at this) apply the word to activities like reading actual paper books in the age of electronics. Example Sentences Recent Examples on the Web Obama crashed against a wall of atavism and paranoia. Matthew Continetti, National Review, 29 Jan. 2022 This gives his career an arc of atavism and abnegating tragedy, a willful artist hopelessly at the mercy of his obsessions. Jerry Saltz, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2021 This was the heyday of Cesare Lombroso’s racist theories about recognizable criminal types and Max Nordau’s study Degeneration, which spread fear of atavism and perversion. Michael Dirda, The New York Review of Books, 28 May 2020 Because the United States has proved successful in absorbing people from so many different backgrounds, the American political elite has, since the mid-20th century at least, tended to look on group identity as a kind of irrational atavism. Park Macdougald, Daily Intelligencer, 19 Apr. 2018 Word History Etymology French atavisme, from Latin atavus ancestor, from at- (probably akin to atta daddy) + avus grandfather — more at uncle First Known Use 1833, in the meaning defined at sense 1a Medical Definition atavism noun at·a·vism ˈat-ə-ˌviz-əm 1 : recurrence in an organism of a trait or character typical of an ancestral form and usually due to genetic recombination 2 : an individual or character manifesting atavism : throwback atavism noun as in relapse Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance relapse reversion regression retrogression return lapse backslide degeneration nondevelopment decline Antonyms & Near Antonyms evolution development progression advancement growth maturation gestation ripening See More
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atavism

noun

Did you know?

Example Sentences

Word History

Medical Definition

noun

noun