
Vestigial
Size Implication
Vestigial often implies something was bigger or more important in the past.
The deserted shopping mall stands as a vestigial monument of consumerism.
Evolutionary Trace
Used in biology to describe parts that have declined in size and function.
Whales have vestigial leg bones, remnants of their walking ancestors.
Not Always Useless
Although usually non-functional, vestigial items can sometimes have new uses.
The pigeon's vestigial toes are used for balance rather than grasping. Compare with
AtrophyEmbryonicPrimitiveResidualRudimentaryUnderdevelopedUndeveloped
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