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Definition of: atavism
(at′ə·viz′əm) noun
1. Reversion to an earlier or primitive type.
2. Biol. Reversion. [<F atavisme <L atavus ancestor <at- beyond + avus grandfather]
—a·tav·ic (ə·tav′ik) adjective
—at′a·vist noun
—at′a·vis′tic adjective
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