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- pronunciation:
- ae
t
vih
zm
- features:
- Word Combinations (noun)
| part of speech: |
noun |
| definition 1: |
the reappearance of a biological characteristic in an organism after it has not appeared for several generations, or an organism displaying such a characteristic.
With respect to a human being, the rare occurrence of a tail is an atavism.- synonyms:
- throwback
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| definition 2: |
the recurrence or reappearance of a particular trait, style, attitude, or behavior that seemed to have disappeared, or that which has recurred or reappeared after such an absence.
The new ethnic strife is an atavism in a nation that regarded itself as one people.- synonyms:
- throwback
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| derivations: |
atavistic (adj.), atavist (n.) |
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