galvanism

[ gal-vuh-niz-uhm ]

noun

1. Electricity. electricity, especially as produced by chemical action.
2. Medicine/Medical. the therapeutic application of electricity to the body.

galvanism

/ 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of galvanism¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of galvanism¹

C18: via French from Italian galvanismo, after Luigi Galvani

Example Sentences

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

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

Initially unable to come up with an idea, Mary Shelley then had a “waking dream” in which she imagined a corpse reanimated by “galvanism,” or electricity.

From New York Times

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

She explicates how trailblazing discoveries in galvanism, chemistry and anatomy helped to form the bones of the book, while its heart beat to the rhythm of Shelley’s radical intellectual lineage and milieu.

From Nature

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