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Glite Dictionary
Paleo-American

Paleo-American

9.9
A person from the first groups of people to live in North or South America more than 10,000 years ago
  • noun
  • /ˌpeɪlioʊ əˈmɛrɪkən/
  • Specialized
translation icon : paleoamericano
  • The Paleo-American culture is fascinating.

Examples

  • The Paleo-American people are believed to have migrated to America over 12,000 years ago.

  • Research indicates that the diets of Paleo-Americans primarily consisted of large game and wild plants.

  • Archaeologists discovered tools believed to be made by Paleo-Americans over 13,000 years ago.

  • Artifacts from Paleo-American cultures provide vital clues about early life in the Americas.

  • Some scientists debate how the first Paleo-Americans migrated to the continent.

  • Many Paleo-Americans were skilled hunters.

  • Recent archaeological discoveries have shed light on the lifestyle of Paleo-Americans in their early settlements.

Synonyms

Paleo-Indian
vsPaleo-American
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A person from the first human groups to live in North or South America during the last Ice Age

has identical meaning but is an alternative term in usage
Paleo-Amerind
vsPaleo-American
  • Specialized
9.9

A person who lived in the Americas more than 10,000 years ago and made stone tools

has identical meaning but is a different form of the same name

Surface Forms

Paleo-American singular
Paleo-Americans plural

Morphology

Paleo-American = American (semi-transparent) = paleo + American

The meaning is compositionally 'paleo' (ancient) + 'American', which is inferable, but 'paleo-' is a technical combining form that may be unfamiliar to average B1 learners.

Etymology

Paleo-American combines paleo- and American, and paleo- means 'ancient', as in the common phrase Paleo diet or the word Paleolithic. So a Paleo-American is an 'ancient American', one of the earliest people to live in North or South America.