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vestige |
3 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Vestige \Ves"tige\, n. [F., from L. vestigium footprint, trace, sign; the last part (-stigium) is probably akin to E. sty, v. i. Cf {Investigate}.] The mark of the foot left on the earth; a track or footstep; a trace; a sign; hence a faint mark or visible sign left by something which is lost, or has perished, or is no longer present; remains; as the vestiges of ancient magnificence in Palmyra; vestiges of former population. What vestiges of liberty or property have they left? --Burke. Ridicule has followed the vestiges of Truth, but never usurped her place --Landor. Syn: Trace; mark; sign; token. Usage: {Vestige}, {Trace}. These words agree in marking some indications of the past, but differ to some extent in their use and application. Vestige is used chiefly in a figurative sense for the remains something long passed away as the vestiges of ancient times; vestiges of the creation. A trace is literally something drawn out in a line and may be used in this its primary sense or figuratively, to denote a sign or evidence left by something that has passed by or ceased to exist. Vestige usually supposes some definite object of the past to be left behind; while a trace may be a mere indication that something has been present or is present; as traces of former population; a trace of poison in a given substance. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Vestige \Ves"tige\, n. (Biol.) A small degenerate, or imperfectly developed part or organ which has been more fully developed in some past generation. From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: vestige n : a clue that something has been present; "there wasn't a trace of evidence for the claim" [syn: {trace}, {shadow}]
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