vestige

ves·tige

noun \ˈves-tij\

Definition of VESTIGE

1

a (1) : a trace, mark, or visible sign left by something (as an ancient city or a condition or practice) vanished or lost (2) : the smallest quantity or trace b : footprint 1

2

: a bodily part or organ that is small and degenerate or imperfectly developed in comparison to one more fully developed in an earlier stage of the individual, in a past generation, or in closely related forms

— ves·ti·gial \ve-ˈsti-jē-əl, -jəl\ adjective

— ves·ti·gial·ly adverb

Examples of VESTIGE

1. <a few strange words carved on a tree were the only vestige of the lost colony of Roanoke>
2. <the fossilized vestige of a dinosaur that traversed that muddy landscape millions of years ago>

Origin of VESTIGE

Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin vestigium footstep, footprint, track, vestige

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to VESTIGE

Synonyms: echo, ghost, relic, shadow, trace

Related Words: memento, remembrance, reminder; artifact; afterimage, aftertaste; balance, corpse, hangover, leftover, oddment, remainder, remnant, scrap; dreg(s), leavings, remain(s), residual, residue, rest

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See Synonym Discussion at trace