ANIMALCULISM

Etymology

Noun

animalculism (uncountable)

(biology, archaic) A theory seeking to explain certain physiological and pathological phenomena in terms of animalcules.

(biology, archaic) The theory that the spermatozoon and not the ovum contains the whole of the embryo; spermatism.

Antonyms

• (spermatozoon theory): ovism

Source: Wiktionary

An`i*mal"cu*lism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. animalculisme.] (Biol.)

Definition: The theory which seeks to explain certain physiological and pathological by means of animalcules.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition