Crossword-Solution: ATAVUS 6 letters, 1 clue 🏆 scrabble score: 9

Such a corroboration is afforded in this instance; for Professor Huxley, speaking in 1870, said, "If the expectation raised by the splints of the horses that, in some ancestor of the horses, these splints would be found to be complete digits, has been verified, we are furnished with very strong reasons for looking for a no less complete verification that the three-toed _plagiolophus_-like 'avus' of the horse must have had a five-toed 'atavus' at some earlier period.

The ancient author, published at the end of Nenbius, says Maelgun began his reign one hundred and forty-six years after Cuaedha, who was his Atavus, or great-grandfather's grandfather.

This form of inheritance is known by the scientific term _atavism_, derived from the Latin word _atavus_, meaning an ancestor.

Speaking of Hengist as leader of the Angles[174] Ethelwerd describes his pedigree thus:--"Cujus pater fuit Wihtgels avus Wicta; proavus WITHER, atavus Wothen," etc.

For _atavus_ and _tritavus_ we have merely the indefinite "forefathers." In the same way the language testifies to the headship of the father.