Monday, March 22, 2010

Atavistic

Atavistic: Atavistic refers to one relatives, something inherited. Atavistic possibly shares its etymology with avuncular (like an uncle).
Since time immemorial the womb has been associated with trouble, and some of the reluctance shown by doctors to attend to anxieties that women feel about their tricky apparatus stems from the atavistic fear.
A Book for Today: The Female Eunuch by Germaine Greer
In 1876, his book Criminal Man presented his theory of the "atavistic" or born criminal.
... Believed that all women were biologically inferior to men and hence inherently atavistic.
A Book for Today: The Crimes of Paris by Dorothy Hoobler

With some atavistic instinct her body had moved closer and closer to the only source of heat as the room grew colder during the night.
A Book for Today: The Bone People by Keri Hulme

No comments: