The Collaborative International Dictionary
Animalculism
Animalculism \An`i*mal"cu*lism\, n. [Cf. F. animalculisme.]
(Biol.) The theory which seeks to explain certain physiological and pathological phenomena by means of animalcules.
(Biol.) The theory that the spermatozo["o]n and not the ovum contains the whole of the embryo; spermatism; -- opposed to ovism.
Wiktionary
animalculism
n. 1 (context biology archaic English) A theory seeking to explain certain physiological and pathological phenomena in terms of animalcules. 2 (context biology archaic English) The theory that the spermatozoon and not the ovum contains the whole of the embryo; spermatism.