atavisme means “throwback” | MotiTan French Dictionary

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Dans leur famille, ce comportement est perçu comme un atavisme.

In their family, this behavior is seen as an atavism.

A dormant ancestral feature emerging again after several generations without appearing.

héritage: A trait or quality passed down from parents or ancestors.
anomalie: A condition that is unusually different from the norm.

Manifestation, chez un descendant, d'un trait hérité qui avait disparu chez les générations précédentes.

The word atavisme is built from Latin atavus, ancestor, and the productive French suffix -isme, which marks a process or condition.

In figurative French, atavisme can refer to the return of an old social or political pattern and often carries a critical tone.