Word: preformations
Part of speech: Noun
Syllables: pre
for
ma
tions
Definition: Plural of preformation; a theory (popular in the 18th century and now discredited) that an individual develops by simple enlargement of a tiny fully formed organism (a homunculus) that exists in the germ cell
Morphemes:
Affix: pre-
Language: en
PoS: Prefix
Meaning: Before; earlier in time.
Etymology Compounds: Affix: prae-
Language: la
Decoded: prae-
PoS: Prefix
Meaning: before; in front
Affix: form
Language: en
PoS: Verb
Meaning: To take shape; develop into a distinctive entity
Etymology Compounds: Affix: fōrma
Language: la
Decoded: forma
Meaning: shape, figure, image, outline, plan, mold, frame, case, etc., manner, sort, kind, etc.
Affix: -ation
Language: en
PoS: Suffix
Meaning: An action or process
Etymology Compounds: Affix: -ātiō
Language: la
Decoded: -atio
PoS: Suffix
Meaning: Form of -tiō appended to nouns
Affix: -s
Language: en
PoS: Suffix
Meaning: Used to form many pluralia tantum (nouns that are almost or entirely without singular forms).