vestige
UK: ˈvɛstɪdʒ | US: ˈvɛstɪdʒ
n. a trace, mark, or visible sign left by something that no longer exists
n. a remnant or surviving evidence of a past condition or phenomenon
n. (biology) a degenerate or imperfectly developed organ or structure
vestige = vest<footprint> + ige<noun suffix>
- vest<footprint>: From Latin vestigium, meaning "footprint, track, or trace."
- ige<noun suffix>: A suffix derived from Latin -igium, often forming nouns related to traces or marks.
Etymology Origin:
The word vestige originates from Latin vestigium, which referred to a footprint or track left behind. Over time, it evolved metaphorically to denote any faint remnant or evidence of something that has passed or disappeared. The suffix -ige (from Latin -igium) helps form the noun, preserving the idea of a lingering trace. This progression from a literal footprint to a symbolic remnant reflects the word's logical expansion in meaning.
The crumbling ruins are the last vestige of an ancient civilization.
Scientists found vestiges of prehistoric plants in the fossil record.
His outdated beliefs are a vestige of a bygone era.
The tiny bone is a vestige of the species' evolutionary past.
Even in modern cities, vestiges of medieval architecture can still be seen.