Monday, April 16, 2007

Today's English

Atavism: 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.

Atavistic: Having characteristics regressing to a more primitive type; resembling a distant ancestor. A evolutionary throwback.

4 comments:

Greg von Winckel said...

And also a classic HST word.

Rufus said...

High School Test? Hunter S. Thompson? Harry S. Truman?

Greg von Winckel said...

Yes, Hunter S. Thompson. He used "atavistic" a lot in his stories. Incidentally, If you've never read "The Great Shark Hunt" it is probably his most amusing story.

Rufus said...

I read most of his stuff back in my early 20s, which is probably the best time to have read it. I have been thinking about reading some of it again though.