missing link

A hypothetical primate once thought necessary to explain a perceived evolutionary gap between apes and humans.

Noun

  1. A hypothetical primate once thought necessary to explain a perceived evolutionary gap between apes and humans.
    • "In the latter case, he may well approximate to what the vulgar have called the 'missing link'." - 1912, Arthur Conan Doyle, The Lost World […], London; New York, N.Y.: Hodder and Stoughton, →OCLC:

    Synonyms: proanthropos

  2. Any sought-after or valuable intermediary figure or position.
    • What we need is an artist who is also a scientist; or a scientist who thinks like an artist. And at last I can unveil that missing link of art and science! - 2010 February 4, Jonathan Jones, “Art v science – at last,...
    • It is hoped this can finally solve the conundrum of how to connect the base to the elite, for so long the game’s missing link. - 2020 August 3, Simon Hill, “Football looks to digital revolution to find missing link...
    • "For too long, there has been a missing link between the East and West Midlands, and this is our opportunity to reforge it," said Webbe. - 2022 February 23, “Network News: MP urges link between Midlands cities to be...

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missing links