Vestige

Vestige
Vestige Ves"tige, n. [F., from L. vestigium footprint, trace, sign; the last part (-stigium) is probably akin to E. sty, v. i. Cf. {Investigate}.] 1. The mark of the foot left on the earth; a track or footstep; a trace; a sign; hence, a faint mark or visible sign left by something which is lost, or has perished, or is no longer present; remains; as, the vestiges of ancient magnificence in Palmyra; vestiges of former population. [1913 Webster]

What vestiges of liberty or property have they left? --Burke. [1913 Webster]

Ridicule has followed the vestiges of Truth, but never usurped her place. --Landor. [1913 Webster]

2. (Biol.) A small, degenerate, or imperfectly developed part or organ which has been more fully developed in some past generation. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

Syn: Trace; mark; sign; token.

Usage: {Vestige}, {Trace}. These words agree in marking some indications of the past, but differ to some extent in their use and application. Vestige is used chiefly in a figurative sense, for the remains something long passed away; as, the vestiges of ancient times; vestiges of the creation. A trace is literally something drawn out in a line, and may be used in this its primary sense, or figuratively, to denote a sign or evidence left by something that has passed by, or ceased to exist. Vestige usually supposes some definite object of the past to be left behind; while a trace may be a mere indication that something has been present or is present; as, traces of former population; a trace of poison in a given substance. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • vestige — [ vɛstiʒ ] n. m. • 1377, fig.; lat. vestigium, proprt « trace du pied » ♦ Surtout au plur. 1 ♦ (1491) Concret Ce qui demeure (d une chose détruite, disparue). ⇒ reste . « un renard, un loup empaillé [...] vestiges des chasses de sa jeunesse »… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • vestige — VESTIGE. s. m. Empreinte du pied d un homme marquée dans l endroit où il a marché. En ce sens il n est guere usité qu au pluriel. Je voy des vestiges d homme. On dit fig. Suivre les vestiges de quelqu un, pour dire, L imiter. Vestige, signifie… …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • vestige — (n.) c.1600, from Fr. vestige a mark, trace, sign, from L. vestigium footprint, trace, of unknown origin …   Etymology dictionary

  • vestige — [ves tij′ē əm] n. pl. vestigia [vestij′ē ə, vestij′əves′tij] n. [Fr < L vestigium, footprint] 1. a trace, mark, or sign of something that once existed but has passed away or disappeared [vestiges of the ancient wall] 2. a trace; bit [not a… …   English World dictionary

  • vestige — *trace, track Analogous words: print, imprint, *impression, stamp …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • vestige — [n] sign, indication evidence, glimmer, hint, memento, print, relic, remainder, remains, remnant, residue, scrap, shadow, suspicion, token, trace, track; concepts 260,284,673 …   New thesaurus

  • vestige — Vestige, Vestigium …   Thresor de la langue françoyse

  • vestige — ► NOUN 1) a remaining trace of something that once existed: the last vestiges of colonialism. 2) the smallest amount. ORIGIN Latin vestigium footprint …   English terms dictionary

  • VESTIGE — s. m. Empreinte du pied d un homme ou d un animal, marquée dans l endroit où il a marché. Il n y paraît aucun vestige. Il est plus usité au pluriel. Je vois des vestiges d homme. On l emploie surtout dans le style soutenu. Fig., Suivre les… …   Dictionnaire de l'Academie Francaise, 7eme edition (1835)

  • vestige — (vè sti j ) s. m. 1°   Terme du style soutenu. Empreinte du pied d un homme ou d un animal, marquée dans l endroit où il a marché. •   Dans cette sainte montagne [le monastère de Sainte Fare] où les épouses de Jésus Christ faisaient revivre la… …   Dictionnaire de la Langue Française d'Émile Littré

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