animalculism

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noun

A theory seeking to explain certain physiological and pathological phenomena in terms of animalcules.

Opposite
ovism
Scrabble 18
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Meanings

nounanimalculism (uncountable)
  1. archaicuncountablebiologyA theory seeking to explain certain physiological and pathological phenomena in terms of animalcules.
  2. archaicuncountablebiologyThe theory that the spermatozoon and not the ovum contains the whole of the embryo; spermism.

Synonyms & antonyms

Opposite
ovism

Origin

Compare French animalculisme. By surface analysis, animalcule + -ism.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

French animalculisme
  • animalculismetheory that the spermatozoon contains the whole of the embryo
Portuguese animalculismo
  • animalculismotheory that the spermatozoon contains the whole of the embryo
Cite this entry
APA

animalculism. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/animalculism

MLA

“animalculism.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/animalculism. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “animalculism,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/animalculism.

Source: animalculism on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.