evolutionism
Meaning
The theory that all living things developed from earlier forms over a long period, especially as proposed by Charles Darwin.
Belief in or advocacy of the theory of evolution as an explanation for the origin and development of species.
Structure
Usage
His scientific work was firmly grounded in evolutionism.
The debate between creationism and evolutionism continues in some school districts.
Early anthropological theories were often influenced by social evolutionism.
Etymology
The term 'evolutionism' is a 19th-century construction built upon the noun 'evolution'. 'Evolution' itself originates from the Latin verb evolvere, meaning 'to unroll' (as a scroll) or 'to unfold', derived from e- (out) and volvere (to roll). This literal sense of a gradual unfolding was metaphorically applied in biology to describe the development of organisms. The suffix '-ism', of Greek origin, was then appended to form a noun specifying the doctrine or theory based on this concept of biological development. Thus, the word's logic moves from the concrete image of unrolling to the abstract theory of gradual biological change.
Analysis
- evolution: From Latin evolutio (an unrolling, opening), from evolvere (to unroll). In this word, it functions as the core noun denoting the process of development. - ism: A suffix of Greek origin (via Latin -ismus), forming nouns of action, state, or doctrine. It denotes a distinctive system, theory, or practice.