animalcule
A sperm cell or spermatozoonA sperm cell or spermatozoon; also, the embryo that was formerly thought to be contained inside a spermatozoon in a fully developed state.
Meaning
3 senses(historical)A sperm cell or spermatozoon; also, the embryo that was formerly thought to be contained inside a spermatozoon in a fully developed state.
(archaic)A microscopic aquatic animal, including protozoa and rotifers.
(obsolete)A small animal.
- microscopic organism such as an amoeba or paramecium
Translations
4 languagesOrigin
Learned borrowing from Late Latin animalculum (“lowly or small animal”) + English -cule (dLearned borrowing from Late Latin animalculum (“lowly or small animal”) + English -cule (diminutive suffix). Animalculum is derived from Latin animal (“animal; living creature”) + -culum (diminutive suffix); and animal from animāle, the nominative neuter singular of animālis (“animate, living; relating to living creatures”), from anima (“breath; life; soul, spirit”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂enh₁- (“to breathe”)) + -ālis (suffix forming adjectives of relationship). The English word is analysable as animal + -cule.
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Forms
plural: animalcules| Singular | animalcule |
|---|---|
| Plural | animalcules |
regular
Synonyms
2 synonyms- microscopic organism such as an amoeba or paramecium:animalculum