polygenesis
English
Etymology
poly- + -genesis
Noun
polygenesis (usually uncountable, plural polygeneses)
- The genesis of a species from more than one ancestor.
- (biology) The theory that living organisms originate in cells or embryos of different kinds, instead of coming from a single cell; as opposed to monogenesis.
- (linguistics) The theory that languages developed independently in different places at different periods, as opposed to originating from a single source.
Related terms
- polygenetic
See also
- monogenesis
References
- polygenesis in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.