Homunculus

Pronunciation: /həˈmʌŋkjələs/

Definitions of homunculus

noun a very small human or humanoid creature, often used in alchemy and folklore

Example Sentences

A1 A homunculus is a small, artificial human.

A2 In alchemy, a homunculus is a miniature human created through magical means.

B1 The concept of a homunculus has been used in literature to explore themes of creation and control.

B2 Some philosophers have debated the ethical implications of creating a homunculus.

C1 The idea of a homunculus has been a subject of scientific and philosophical inquiry for centuries.

C2 In modern neuroscience, the concept of a homunculus is used to represent the distorted sensory map of the human body in the brain.

Examples of homunculus in a Sentence

formal The alchemist created a homunculus in his laboratory as part of his experiments.

informal I heard that crazy scientist made a tiny homunculus in his basement.

slang That little homunculus is so weird looking, like a tiny alien.

figurative The CEO treated his assistant like a homunculus, always ordering him around and never appreciating his hard work.

Grammatical Forms of homunculus

• plural: homunculi
• comparative: more homunculus
• superlative: most homunculus
• present tense: homunculus
• future tense: will homunculus
• perfect tense: has homunculus
• continuous tense: is homunculing
• singular: homunculus
• positive degree: homunculus
• infinitive: to homunculus
• gerund: homunculing
• participle: homunculused

Origin and Evolution of homunculus

First Known Use: 1600 year

Language of Origin: Latin

Story behind the word: The word 'homunculus' originates from Latin, where it means 'little man'.

Evolution of the word: Originally used in alchemical and philosophical contexts to refer to a miniature, fully formed human being created through magical or scientific means. Over time, the word has come to be used more broadly to refer to any small or miniature version of something.