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phyletic

[fahy-let-ik]
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adjective Biology.
  1. of, relating to, or based on the evolutionary history of a group of organisms; phylogenetic.
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Origin of phyletic

1880–85; Greek phȳletikós pertaining to a tribesman, equivalent to phȳlét(ēs) tribesman (derivative of phȳ́lē phyle) + -ikos -ic
Related formsphy·let·i·cal·ly, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

genetic, national, tribal, ancestral, folk, hereditary, genealogical, lineal, phyletic, phylogenetic

Examples from the Web for phyletic

Historical Examples

  • This is true of both branches of evolution, individual and phyletic.

    The Wonders of Life

    Ernst Haeckel

  • The frogs in this phyletic line retained the moderate size of the prototype and did not develop additional dermal bone.

  • This phyletic line retained the larval characters and breeding call of the prototype.

  • All can be interpreted as embryonic survivals rather than as phyletic contractions.

  • The trend of phyletic development in the dipodomyines has been toward the saltatorial habit.

British Dictionary definitions for phyletic

phyletic

phylogenetic (ˌfaɪləʊdʒɪˈnɛtɪk)

adjective
  1. of or relating to the evolution of a species or group of organisms
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Derived Formsphyletically or phylogenetically, adverb

Word Origin

C19: from Greek phuletikos tribal
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for phyletic

adj.

"racial, pertaining to race," 1873, probably coined in German from Greek phyletikos "of one's tribe," from phyletes "fellow tribesman," from phyle (see phylo-).

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper