Atavistic for Dummies
adjective
pronunciation: ,ætə'vɪstɪkWhat does Atavistic really mean?
Atavistic is a word that might sound a bit complicated at first, but let's break it down in a way that is easy to understand. So, imagine you have a time machine that can take you back to the past, thousands of years ago. In those times, people didn't have the same technologies, knowledge, or even way of living as we do today. They had a different set of behaviors, physical traits, and instincts. Now, "atavistic" is a word that describes something or someone that shows characteristics or behaviors that are similar to those found in the past. It's like a little reminder of how things used to be a long time ago.
Let me give you an example. Imagine you have a friend who becomes really brave when facing a dangerous situation. They show a courage and fearlessness that seems to come from deep within them, almost like they have the instincts of a lion. In this case, we could say that their behavior is atavistic because it reminds us of how our ancestors used to be, when they had to rely on their instincts to survive in the wild.
Now, the word "atavistic" can also have another meaning. Sometimes, it is used to describe the occurrence of a physical trait or a feature that hasn't been seen in a particular species for a long time but suddenly reappears in a few individuals. It's like a throwback to the past. For example, if you discover a group of birds that have long-lost feathers that were common in their ancestors, but not in most birds today, you could say they display an atavistic feature.
So, in simpler terms, "atavistic" means something or someone that shows characteristics, behaviors, or physical traits that remind us of how things used to be a long time ago, either in terms of behavior or physical appearance. It's like a small glimpse into the past.
Let me give you an example. Imagine you have a friend who becomes really brave when facing a dangerous situation. They show a courage and fearlessness that seems to come from deep within them, almost like they have the instincts of a lion. In this case, we could say that their behavior is atavistic because it reminds us of how our ancestors used to be, when they had to rely on their instincts to survive in the wild.
Now, the word "atavistic" can also have another meaning. Sometimes, it is used to describe the occurrence of a physical trait or a feature that hasn't been seen in a particular species for a long time but suddenly reappears in a few individuals. It's like a throwback to the past. For example, if you discover a group of birds that have long-lost feathers that were common in their ancestors, but not in most birds today, you could say they display an atavistic feature.
So, in simpler terms, "atavistic" means something or someone that shows characteristics, behaviors, or physical traits that remind us of how things used to be a long time ago, either in terms of behavior or physical appearance. It's like a small glimpse into the past.
Revised and Fact checked by Olivia White on 2023-10-28 02:56:52
Atavistic In a sentece
Learn how to use Atavistic inside a sentece
- Joey has a big appetite for food, just like his atavistic ancestors who had to eat a lot to survive.
- Sarah inherited her mother's atavistic love for painting, and she spends hours creating beautiful artworks just like her ancestor.
- Mark has a strong aversion to water, which can be traced back to an atavistic fear of drowning that his ancestors may have experienced.
- The cat's atavistic instincts kicked in when it saw a bird outside the window, and it started stalking and pouncing just like its wild ancestors.
- During the camping trip, David felt an atavistic connection to nature as he built a shelter using only natural materials, just like early humans did.
Atavistic Synonyms
Words that can be interchanged for the original word in the same context.
Atavistic Similar Words
Words that similar to the original word, but are not synonyms.