EMBRYO

embryo. Embryo, Embryon, n. the rudiments of an animal or plant, before the parts are distinctly formed, the beginning

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Em″bry‐o (?), n.; pl. Embryos (#). [[F. embryon, Gr. ἔμβρυον, perh. fr. � in (akin to L. � E. in) + � to be full of, swell with; perh. akin to E. brew.]] (Biol.) The first rudiments of an organism, whether animal or plant; as: (a) The young of an animal in the womb, or more specifically, before its parts are developed and it becomes a fetus (see Fetus). (b) The germ of the plant, which is inclosed in the seed and which is developed by germination. In embryo, in an incipient or undeveloped state; in conception, but not yet executed. “The company little suspected what a noble work I had then in embryo.” Swift.