- spermism
- The belief by preformationists that the male sex cell (sperm) contains a miniature preformed body called the homunculus.
Medical dictionary. 2011.
spermism
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Spermism — Sperm ism, n. [Gr. ? seed, sperm + ism.] (Biol.) The theory, formerly held by many, that the sperm or spermatozo[ o]n contains the germ of the future embryo; animalculism. [Webster 1913 Suppl.] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
spermism — sperm·ism … English syllables
spermism — ˈspərˌmizəm noun ( s) Etymology: International Scientific Vocabulary sperm + ism : a theory formerly widely held in biology: the sperm contains the preformed germ of the embryo compare ovism … Useful english dictionary
Preformationism — is the theory that all organisms were created at the same time, and that succeeding generations grow from homunculi, animalcules, or other fully formed but miniature versions of themselves that have existed since the beginning of creation.In the… … Wikipedia
Ovism — O vism, n. [Ovum + ism.] (Zo[ o]l.) The old theory that the egg contains the whole embryo of the future organism and the germs of all subsequent offsprings and is merely awakened to activity by the spermatozo[ o]n; opposed to {spermism} or… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
spermist — A preformationist who believed in the concept of spermism. Cf.:ovist … Medical dictionary
ovism — ˈōvizəm noun ( s) Etymology: International Scientific Vocabulary ov + ism : an old theory that the egg contains the whole embryo of the future organism and the germs of all subsequent offspring compare animalculism * * * ovism Biol. (ˈəʊvɪz(ə)m)… … Useful english dictionary
seminist — ˈsemənə̇st noun ( s) Etymology: Latin semin , semen + English ist : an adherent of the old theory that the offspring is formed by admixture of the seed of the male with the supposed seed of the female compare ovism, spermism … Useful english dictionary
spermatism — ˈspərməˌtizəm noun ( s) Etymology: spermat + ism 1. : emission of semen 2. [International Scientific Vocabulary spermat + ism] : spermism … Useful english dictionary
spermist — mə̇st noun ( s) Etymology: International Scientific Vocabulary sperm + ist : an adherent of the theory of spermism … Useful english dictionary
