theory of preformation
- noun
- /ˈθiəri əv ˌpriːfərˈmeɪʃən/
- Archaic
:
teoría de la preformación
- According to the theory of preformation, all traits were thought to be present in miniature from conception.
Examples
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The theory of preformation was widely accepted before modern genetics disproved it.
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Many 18th-century scientists subscribed to the theory of preformation despite a lack of empirical evidence.
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The theory of preformation was widely accepted in the 17th century.
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Many scientists have criticized the theory of preformation over the years.
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According to the theory of preformation, all traits were thought to be present in miniature from conception.
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Many 18th-century scientists subscribed to the theory of preformation despite a lack of empirical evidence.
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The theory of preformation was widely accepted before modern genetics disproved it.
Synonyms
The old idea that a tiny complete animal is already in the egg and just grows bigger
How Accepted
- Specialized
206
5.0
∞
3.2
- Archaic
138
6.1
817
2.9
288
4.8
Surface Forms
Morphology
theory + of + preformation
The phrase is fully compositional: 'theory' (set of ideas) + 'of' + 'preformation' (the specific doctrine) straightforwardly yields 'the theory that posits preformation.' Although 'preformation' is a specialized/historical scientific term, if a learner knows that constituent the overall meaning is predictable and non-idiomatic.
Etymology
The noun theory of preformation comes from an old idea that a tiny, fully formed person lived inside the sperm or egg. People believed this little person simply 'got bigger' as the baby grew, so the phrase means the idea that development is just the 'enlargement' of a preformation and was later shown to be 'wrong'.