Definitions
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun In biology, an organic being which exhibits atavism.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun A
genetic characteristic emerging after absence from several generations.
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- noun an organism that has the characteristics of a more primitive type of that organism
Etymologies
Sorry, no etymologies found.
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Examples
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Your smug authorship style is intended to impart upon me that you know it all, I am just an atavist fool.
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Conservatives are to busy going to work and making sinful profits to spend time at a conference to learn how to become a better online atavist.
Liberal bloggers admit conservatives have upper hand on Twitter 2009
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"It's a mistake to think that privacy is an individualist or atavist right," Rotenberg said.
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An atavist of the days of blind chivalry he was, a knight errant in the somber clothes of a fanatic.
The Moon of Skulls Howard, Robert E. 2005
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"It's a mistake to think that privacy is an individualist or atavist right," Rotenberg said.
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He could be an atavist, a victim of unconscious regression.
Strange Alliance Bryce Walton 1953
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It puts to death with the same ruthless equality the prophet and the atavist.
The Joyful Heart Robert Haven Schauffler 1921
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Of two hundred seeds one became a blue atavist, or rather vicinist, while all others remained true to the white type.
Species and Varieties, Their Origin by Mutation Hugo de Vries 1891
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[2] Relating to old or established pattern; habitual, ingrained [3] (as a noun) an atavist is a genetic characteristic emerging after absence from several generations (see Wikipedia entry for a more detailed explanation).
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But Jesse Helms was so rooted in his atavist traditions, he chose to remain true to his misogyny rather than pose for cameras with faux female golfing partners.
corylusavellana commented on the word atavist
Atavista?
January 2, 2009