n.
Pronunciation: ' a-t ə - ˌ vi-z ə m
Function: noun
Etymology: French atavisme, from Latin atavus ancestor, from at- (prob. akin to atta daddy) + avus grandfather ― more at UNCLE
Date: 1833
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 : one that manifests atavism : THROWBACK
– at · a · vis · tic \ ˌ a-t ə - ' vis-tik \ adjective
– at · a · vis · ti · cal · ly \ -ti-k( ə -)l ē \ adverb