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atavism

at·a·vism [ áttə vìzzəm ] (plural at·a·visms)


noun 
Definition:
 
1. reappearance of genetic feature: the recurrence of a genetically controlled feature in an organism after it has been absent for several generations, usually because of an accidental recombination of genes

2. somebody with atavism: an organism showing atavism

[Mid-19th century. < French atavisme< Latin atavus "beyond a grandfather" < avus "grandfather"]
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