superfetation

 
Pronunciation: /ˌsuːpəfiːˈteɪʃ(ə)n, ˌsjuː-/

noun

[mass noun] Medicine & Zoology
  • the occurrence of a second conception during pregnancy, giving rise to embryos of different ages in the uterus: this is an example of superfetation and of ovulation during pregnancy
  • the accretion of one thing on another: the superfetation of ideas

Origin:

early 17th century: from French superfétation or modern Latin superfetatio(n-), from Latin superfetare, from super- 'above' + fetus 'fetus'