homunculus

ho·mun·cu·lus  (h-mngky-ls, h-)

n. pl. ho·mun·cu·li (-l)

1. A diminutive human.

2. A miniature, fully formed individual believed by adherents of the early biological theory of preformation to be present in the sperm cell.

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[Latin, diminutive of hom, man; see dhghem- in Indo-European roots.]

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ho·muncu·lar adj.

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homunculus

1. a small man or midget.
2. formerly, the microcosmic human form believed to be present in spermatozoon.

See also: Size

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1. a small man or midget.
2. the microcosmic human form formerly believed to be present in spermatozoon.

See also: Mankind

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	homunculus - a person who is very small but who is not otherwise deformed or abnormal manikin, mannikin small person - a person of below average size
	2.	homunculus - a tiny fully formed individual that (according to the discredited theory of preformation) is supposed to be present in the sperm cell individual, mortal, person, somebody, someone, soul - a human being; "there was too much for one person to do"