Word Meanings - PREFORMATION - Book Publishers vocabulary database

An old theory of the preëxistence of germs. Cf. Emboîtement.

Related words: (words related to PREFORMATION)

• THEORY
  1. A doctrine, or scheme of things, which terminates in speculation or contemplation, without a view to practice; hypothesis; speculation. Note: "This word is employed by English writers in a very loose and improper sense. It is with them usually
• NONEXISTENCE
  1. Absence of existence; the negation of being; nonentity. A. Baxter. 2. A thing that has no existence. Sir T. Browne.
• VORTEX THEORY
  The theory, advanced by Thomson on the basis of investigation by Helmholtz, that the atoms are vortically moving ring-shaped masses (or masses of other forms having a similar internal motion) of a homogeneous, incompressible, frictionless fluid.
• DENOTEMENT
  Sign; indication. Note: A word found in some editions of Shakespeare.
• DINGDONG THEORY
  The theory which maintains that the primitive elements of language are reflex expressions induced by sensory impressions; that is, as stated by Max Müller, the creative faculty gave to each general conception as it thrilled for the first
• GERM THEORY
  The theory that living organisms can be produced only by the development of living germs. Cf. Biogenesis, Abiogenesis. 2. The theory which attributes contagious and infectious diseases, suppurative lesions, etc., to the agency of germs.
• DEBATEMENT
  Controversy; deliberation; debate. A serious question and debatement with myself. Milton.
• SIDE-CHAIN THEORY
  A theory proposed by Ehrlich as a chemical explanation of immunity phenomena. In brief outline it is as follows: Animal cells and bacteria are complex aggregations of molecules, which are themselves complex. Complex molecules react with one another
• INCITEMENT
  1. The act of inciting. 2. That which incites the mind, or moves to action; motive; incentive; impulse. Burke. From the long records of a distant age, Derive incitements to renew thy rage. Pope. Syn. -- Motive; incentive; spur; stimulus; impulse;
• PREEXISTENCE
  1. Existence in a former state, or previous to something else. Wisdom declares her antiquity and preëxistence to all the works of this earth. T. Burnet. 2. Existence of the soul before its union with the body; -- a doctrine held by certain
• REINSTATEMENT
  The act of reinstating; the state of being reinstated; re
• IMBRUTEMENT
  The act of imbruting, or the state of being imbruted. Brydges.
• INDITEMENT
  The act of inditing. Craig.
• ABATEMENT
  A mark of dishonor on an escutcheon. (more info) 1. The act of abating, or the state of being abated; a lessening, diminution, or reduction; removal or putting an end to; as, the abatement of a nuisance is the suppression thereof. 2. The amount
• POSTEXISTENCE
  Subsequent existence.
• EMBOITEMENT
  The hypothesis that all living things proceed from preëxisting germs, and that these encase the germs of all future living things, inclosed one within another. Buffon.
• DEVOTEMENT
  The state of being devoted, or set apart by a vow. Bp. Hurd.
• INEXISTENCE
  Inherence; subsistence. Bp. Hall. That which exists within; a constituent. A. Tucker.
• FERMENTATION THEORY
  The theory which likens the course of certain diseases (esp. infectious diseases) to the process of fermentation, and attributes them to the organized ferments in the body. It does not differ materially from the accepted germ theory .
• SELF-EXISTENCE
  Inherent existence; existence possessed by virtue of a being's own nature, and independent of any other being or cause; -- an attribute peculiar to God. Blackmore.