Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Animalculism \An`i*mal"cu*lism\, n. (Biol.)
   The theory that the spermatozo["o]n and not the ovum contains
   the whole of the embryo; spermatism; -- opposed to {ovism}.

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.