prepotency

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   an unusual ability of one parent, individual, or strain to transmit its characteristics strongly to offspring

   The breeder attributed the foal's marked resemblance to the sire's prepotency.

2. 2
   noun

   the state of having greater power, influence, or importance than others

   The journal maintained its prepotency in the field for several decades.

From prepotent plus -cy, ultimately from Latin praepotens ("very powerful, predominant"), formed from prae- ("before, in front") and potens ("powerful"). Genetics and breeding specialized the word for unusually strong transmission of parental traits.

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