acritarch

noun

ac·ri·tarch ˈa-kri-ˌtärk

: any of a group of fossil one-celled marine planktonic organisms of uncertain and possibly various taxonomic affinities held to represent the earliest known eukaryotes

Word History

Etymology

Greek ákritos "confused, uncertain" (from a- a- entry 2 + kritós, verbal adjective of krī́nein "to separate, decide") + archḗ "beginning" — more at certain entry 1, arch- entry 1

First Known Use

1963, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of acritarch was in 1963

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Acritarch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/acritarch. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.

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