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Darwinian - Dictionary Definition and Overview |
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Darwinian : adj : of or relating to Charles Darwin's theory of organic
evolution; "Darwinian theories" [syn: Darwinian]
(noun)
1: an advocate of Darwinism [syn: Darwinian]
Based on WordNet 2.0
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Darwinian : \Dar*win"i*an\, a. [Based on the name of Charles Darwin,
an English scientist.]
Pertaining to Darwin; as, the Darwinian theory, a theory of
the manner and cause of the supposed development of living
things from certain original forms or elements.
Note: This theory was put forth by Darwin in 1859 in a work
entitled ``The Origin of species by Means of Natural
Selection.'' The author argues that, in the struggle
for existence, those plants and creatures best fitted
to the requirements of the situation in which they are
placed are the ones that will live; in other words,
that Nature selects those which are to survive. This is
the theory of natural selection or the survival of the
fittest. He also argues that natural selection is
capable of modifying and producing organisms fit for
their circumstances. See Development theory, under
Development.
Based on Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
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Darwinian : \Dar*win"i*an\, n.
An advocate of Darwinism.
Based on Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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