preformation en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- /pɹiːfɔːˈmeɪʃ(ə)n/ (UK)
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *per- Proto-Indo-European *preh₂- Proto-Indo-European *-i Proto-Indo-European *préh₂i? Proto-Italic *prai Proto-Italic *prai- Latin prae-lbor. Middle English pre- English pre- English formation English preformation From pre- + formation.
Meanings
- (countable, uncountable) Prior formation.
-
(countable, historical, uncountable) The theory that organisms are fully developed in the form of an egg or seed, and just increase in size (as opposed to epigenesis).
Preformation, as even Aristotle spotted, merely postpones the problem, for how did the homunculus get its shape?
1999, Matt Ridley, Genome, Harper Perennial, published 2004, page 174:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| praeformation | alternative | lexicographic | |
| preformations | Number=Plur | lexicographic |