atav- root words — words with the atav- root

The root atav- comes from Latin atavus, meaning ancestor. 2 words in Dendril are built from it, including atavism, atavistic. Dendril shows them on a free interactive word map — no signup, no ads.

Words that use the atav- root

Explore words with atav- — words containing the atav- root and sharing its sense of "ancestor". Examples include atavism, atavistic. Click any word to see its own roots, definition, and related words.

What does atav- mean?

The atav- root means ancestor, from Latin atavus. Recognizing it helps you decode and remember the many English words built on this root.