atavistic
adjective /ˌæt.əˈvɪs.tɪk/
/ˌæt̬-/ formalDefinition
› happening because of a very old habit from a long time ago in human history, not because of a conscious decision or because it is necessary now: an atavistic fear of the darkHabitual behaviour atavism /ˈæt.ə.vɪ.zəm/
/ˈæt̬-/ noun [U]
/ˈæt̬-/ noun [U] (Definition of atavistic adjective from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus
© Cambridge University Press)
Browse related topics
You are looking at an entry to do with Habitual behaviour, but you might be interested in these topics from the General and specific topic area:
- Adapting and attuning to something
- Elaborating, specifying and simplifying
- Exceptional qualities, things and people
- General
- Habitual and customary
- Particular and individual
- Plain and ordinary
- Standard and routine
- Strange, suspicious and unnatural
- Strange, suspicious and unnatural things and people
- Unique and unusual
- Unknown and unfamiliar
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Synonyms and related words:
- creature of habit idiom
- custom noun (USUAL WAY)
- diet noun
- disposition noun
- foible noun
- force noun (INFLUENCE)
- habit noun (REPEATED ACTION)
- idiosyncrasy noun
- penchant noun
- practice noun (REGULAR ACTIVITY)
- predisposition noun
- proclivity noun
- programme verb
- propensity noun
- ritual noun
- routine noun
- tendency noun
- wont adjective
- wont noun
- you can't teach an old dog new tricks idiom
Topic:
Habitual behaviour
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