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galvanism

American  
[gal-vuh-niz-uhm] / ˈgæl vəˌnɪz əm /

noun

  1. Electricity. electricity, especially as produced by chemical action.

  2. Medicine/Medical. the therapeutic application of electricity to the body.


galvanism British  
/ ˈɡælvəˌnɪzəm /

noun

  1. obsolete electricity, esp when produced by chemical means as in a cell or battery

  2. med treatment involving the application of electric currents to tissues

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of galvanism

1790–1800; < French galvanisme, named after Luigi Galvani; see -ism


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Hatch Escapes fictionalized Shelley’s research process for “Frankenstein,” having her in the game study under a scientist to learn about anatomy and galvanism.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 27, 2023

The term's namesake, Luigi Galvani, believed that galvanism confirmed his theory of a form of energy called "animal electricity" that gives living things their life force.

From Salon ● Oct. 30, 2022

Writing her imaginary story of a being jolted to life by Victor Frankenstein, Mary drew on the cutting-edge science of her time, including galvanism and electricity.

From Economist ● Feb. 15, 2018

It was Percy who may have acquainted her with galvanism, which Frankenstein explicitly mentions as the key to reanimation in the 1831 edition.

From Science Magazine ● Jan. 10, 2018

The answer to this question had been so uncertain that the effect of the voltaic battery had been termed "galvanism," while that of the friction machine retained the name "electricity."

From The Story of Great Inventions by Elmer Ellsworth Burns

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