animalculism

noun

an·​i·​mal·​cu·​lism

-kyəˌlizəm

plural -s

1

: a former theory in biology: various obscure physiological and pathological phenomena are caused by the activities of minute invisible animals

2

: a former theory in biology: the spermatozoon contains the whole embryo in miniature compare ovism

Word History

First Known Use

1845, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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