atavism /'aetavizam; 'sets,virsm/ n reappearance in a person of a characteristic or quality that has not shown itself for several or many generations. (人之特征或性格的) 隔代遺傳; 祖型再現(xiàn); 返祖遺傳; 返祖性。 → reversion, throwback. atavistic /.ssts-'vistik; , sets'vi8tik/ adj