homunculus

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin homunculus, diminutive of homō (“man”).

Pronunciation

  • (US) IPA(key): /həˈmʌŋkjələs/, /hoʊˈmʌŋkjələs/
  • Audio (US)(file)

Noun

homunculus (plural homunculi)

  1. A miniature man, once imagined by spermists to be present in human sperm.
  2. The nerve map of the human body that exists on the parietal lobe of the human brain.

Citations

  • For quotations of use of this term, see Citations:homunculus.

Derived terms

  • cortical homunculus

Translations

See also

Further reading

  • homunculus in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
  • homunculus in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911

Latin

Etymology

From homō, hominis +‎ -culus.

Pronunciation

  • (Classical) IPA(key): /hoˈmun.ku.lus/, [hɔˈmʊŋ.kʊ.ɫʊs]

Noun

homunculus m (genitive homunculī); second declension

  1. diminutive of homō (“man”).
  2. a little or weak man, homunculus

Inflection

Second declension.

Case Singular Plural
nominative homunculus homunculī
genitive homunculī homunculōrum
dative homunculō homunculīs
accusative homunculum homunculōs
ablative homunculō homunculīs
vocative homuncule homunculī

References

  • homunculus in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  • homunculus in Charlton T. Lewis (1891) An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers
  • homunculus in Gaffiot, Félix (1934) Dictionnaire Illustré Latin-Français, Hachette
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