Both Uses of
vestige
in
The History of Love
- The anatomical illusion that had seemed so real slowly disappeared and—like so much we no longer need but can't give up—became vestigial.
*vestigial = a trace of something that was previously there
- There is disagreement among the angels as to whether this is a result of something vestigial, or whether it is the result of the empathy they feel for the Living, so powerful it sometimes makes them weep.†
Definition:
a remaining trace (little bit of something) that was previously abundant
In biology, vestige (especially in the form vestigial) references a part of the body that is underdeveloped and no longer used, but which formally was an important body part. As in: Darwin believed vestigial organs are evidence of evolution.