Atavistic

Pronunciation: /ˌætəˈvɪstɪk/

Definitions of atavistic

adjective relating to or characterized by reversion to something ancient or ancestral

Example Sentences

A1 Some people believe in atavistic superstitions.

A2 The ancient ritual was seen as atavistic by modern society.

B1 The tribe's atavistic customs were passed down through generations.

B2 The artist's work was inspired by atavistic themes from ancient cultures.

C1 The novel explored the protagonist's atavistic instincts in a modern setting.

C2 The scientist studied the atavistic traits present in the DNA of certain species.

Examples of atavistic in a Sentence

formal The scientist observed an atavistic trait in the newly discovered species.

informal I heard that some people believe in atavistic behavior being passed down through generations.

slang Dude, that old car is so atavistic, it's like a blast from the past.

figurative Her atavistic fear of spiders stemmed from a childhood trauma.

Grammatical Forms of atavistic

• past tense: atavistic
• plural: atavistics
• comparative: more atavistic
• superlative: most atavistic
• present tense: atavistic
• future tense: will be atavistic
• perfect tense: has been atavistic
• continuous tense: is being atavistic
• singular: atavistic
• positive degree: atavistic
• infinitive: to be atavistic
• gerund: being atavistic
• participle: atavistic

Origin and Evolution of atavistic

First Known Use: 1833 year

Language of Origin: Latin

Story behind the word: The word 'atavistic' originated from the Latin word 'atavus' meaning ancestor.

Evolution of the word: Originally used in biology to describe traits or behaviors that reappear after being absent for generations, the term 'atavistic' has since been extended to refer to any throwback or reversion to an earlier state or characteristic.