anlage. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000.

The American Heritage^® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000.

anlage

SYLLABICATION:	an·la·ge
PRONUNCIATION:	änläg
VARIANT FORMS:	also An·la·ge
NOUN:	Inflected forms: pl. an·la·ges or an·la·gen (-gn) 1. Biology The initial clustering of embryonic cells from which a part or an organ develops; primordium. 2. A genetic predisposition to a given trait or personality characteristic. 3. A fundamental principle; the foundation for a future development.
ETYMOLOGY:	German, fundamental principle, from Middle High German anlge, request : ane-, on (from Old High German ana-; see an- in Appendix I) + lge, act of laying (from Old High German lga; see legh- in Appendix I).


The American Heritage^® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by the Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.