GRE Word List

ATAVISM

recurrence in an organism of a trait or character typical of an ancestral form and usually due to genetic recombination

The meaning of the word atavism is recurrence in an organism of a trait or character typical of an ancestral form and usually due to genetic recombination.

Random words

WordMeaning
incentivesomething that incites or has a tendency to incite to determination or action
gavelrent or tribute in medieval England
acutecharacterized by sharpness or severity of sudden onset
schematicof or relating to a scheme or schema
trampletramp
distraitapprehensively divided or withdrawn in attention : distracted
derivationthe formation of a word from another word or base (as by the addition of a usually noninflectional affix)
absolveto set (someone) free from an obligation or the consequences of guilt
abscissionthe act or process of cutting off : removal
spatefreshet