regeneration n.
in the British television series Doctor Who: the process by which a Time Lord transforms themself into a new physical form, esp. after an experience that would otherwise be fatal; (also) a particular manifestation of a Time Lord
Doctor Who
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[1974 Liverpool Echo 16 Feb. 1/8
The Doctor’s latest character change was explained yesterday by producer Barry Letts. ‘The present Doctor goes into a cave and dies. But because he is a Time Lord he regenerates and bounces back again, looking remarkably like Tom Baker.’]
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[1974 Planet of the Spiders (Part Six) (Doctor Who episode) 8 June (transcription)
All the cells of his body have been devastated by the Metebelis crystals, but you forget, he is a Time Lord. I will give the process a little push and the cells will regenerate. He will become a new man.]
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1978 Invasion of Time (Part One) (Doctor Who episode) 4 Feb. (transcription)
[Lord Gomer:] They say with time wisdom comes to a man. Aren’t you due for regeneration?
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1978 Invasion of Time (Part Three) (Doctor Who episode) 18 Feb. (transcription)
[Lord Gomer:] I’m sorry I can’t go any faster. By the time you’re my age, I’m in my tenth regeneration, you know.
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1980
Terrance Dicks
bibliography
The regeneration method of the Time Lords was largely a natural one. A combination of genetic coding and long yoga-like training enabled them to trigger the regeneration process themselves at the appropriate time.
Doctor Who & the Underworld 34 -
1984
Peter Haining
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In the first episode of ‘The Power of the Daleks’ in 1966, the Doctor (then in his Patrick Troughton regeneration) rummaged around among things in the TARDIS and produced…a small, leather-bound book. [Ibid. 210] The plot progresses inevitably towards the terrible conflict which necessitates the Doctor’s regeneration into his new, youthful body.
Doctor Who: The Key to Time 9/1 -
2006 Doctor Who Annual 2006 9/2
His days were brought to an end when the TARDIS was drawn off course by the malignant Rani, causing a space collision which triggered his next regeneration.
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2015
In Deep Breath, Clara struggles to come to terms with the Doctor’s latest regeneration.
Scientific Secrets of Doctor Who 379
Research requirements
antedating 1978
Last modified 2021-03-06 00:45:36
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