Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- noun Formation or development of a second fetus when one is already present in the uterus, occurring normally in certain vertebrate species.
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun A second conception some time after a prior one, by which two fetuses of different age exist together in the same female: often used figuratively.
- noun The fetus produced by superfetation; hence, any excrescent growth.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- noun (Physiol.) The formation of a fetus at the result of an impregnation occurring after another impregnation but before the birth of the offspring produced by it. This is possible only when there is a double uterus, or where menstruation persists up to the time of the second impregnation.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun An
excessive accumulation ; asuperfluous addition . - noun The formation of a
fetus while another fetus is already present in theuterus .
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- noun fertilization of a second ovum after a pregnancy has begun; results in two fetuses of different ages in the uterus at the same time
Etymologies
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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There have been only 10 recorded cases of the phenomenon, dubbed superfetation.
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It's called "superfetation," and I guess it happens... not only can you get pregnant while on your period, etc., I guess you can get pregnant ANYTIME.
You can get pregnant...When you're pregnant! GreenFertility 2009
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It's called "superfetation," and I guess it happens... not only can you get pregnant while on your period, etc., I guess you can get pregnant ANYTIME.
Archive 2009-09-01 GreenFertility 2009
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She addressed the controller of excise as “M. Chatelet,” and left that gentleman thunderstruck by the discovery that she knew about the illegal superfetation of the particle.
Two Poets 2007
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She addressed the controller of excise as “M. Chatelet,” and left that gentleman thunderstruck by the discovery that she knew about the illegal superfetation of the particle.
Two Poets 2007
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Erasistratus, that superfetation may happen to women as to irrational creatures; for, if the womb be well purged and very clean, then there can be divers births.
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The birth of twins is an evil portent to the Mpongwes, as it is in many parts of Central Africa, and even in the New World; it also involves the idea of moral turpitude, as if the woman were one of the lower animals, capable of superfetation.
Two Trips to Gorilla Land and the Cataracts of the Congo 2003
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Neither from the beginning would it ever admit of any additions unto it, but what came from the same fountain of divine revelation and inspiration, clearing itself, in all ages, from all addition and superfetation of men whatever.
Pneumatologia 1616-1683 1967
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Transports, that escape from the Gallows, to the Plantations abroad, and a superfetation of Felons, to give a little Business to our Judges,
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Argles 2.39 mentions simultaneous extrauterine fetation and superfetation.
bilby commented on the word superfetation
Not an obsession with Greek cheese.
November 5, 2008
quotato commented on the word superfetation
Baby, oh baby!
September 27, 2009
milosrdenstvi commented on the word superfetation
In the beginning was the Word.
Superfetation of τὸ ἔν,
And at the mensual turn of time
Produced enervate Origen.
T. S. Eliot
November 9, 2010