autochthon Hear it!

autochthon definition

au·toch·thon (ô täkt̸hən)

noun pl. autochthons -·thons or autochthones -·tho·nes′ (-t̸hə nēz′)

  1. any of the earliest known inhabitants of a place; aborigine
  2. any indigenous animal or plant

Etymology: Gr autochthōn, sprung from the land itself < autos, self + chthōn, earth: see homage

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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