plural of preformative

Chiefly in Semitic languages: a formative letter, syllable, etc., at the beginning of a word.

Of or pertaining to preformation. / Of a thing: forming or affecting something that comes later.

preformationism

plural of preformant

(archaic, rare) Chiefly in Semitic languages: Synonym of preformative (“a formative letter, syllable, etc., at the beginning of a word”)

(biology) the theory that all organisms start their existence already in a predetermined form upon conception and this form does not change in the course of their lifetime (as opposed to epigenesis)

plural of preformationist

(biology, historical) A proponent of the theory of preformationism.

(biology, historical) Relating to the theory of preformation.