germen.html - n.
1 a micro-organism, esp. one which causes disease.
2 a a portion of an organism capable of developing into a new one; the rudiment of an animal or plant. b an embryo of a seed (wheat germ).
3 an original idea etc. from which something may develop; an elementary principle.

germ-cell 1 a cell containing half the number of chromosomes of a somatic cell and able to unite with one from the opposite sex to form a new individual; a gamete.
2 any embryonic cell with the potential of developing into a gamete. germ warfare the systematic spreading of micro-organisms to cause disease in an enemy population. in germ not yet developed.

germy adj. [F germe f. L germen germinis sprout]

germen.html - n. & adj.
--n.

1 a native or national of Germany; a person of German descent.
2 the language of Germany, also used in Austria and Switzerland.

--adj.

of or relating to Germany or its people or language.

German measles a contagious disease, rubella, with symptoms like mild measles. German shepherd (or shepherd dog) an Alsatian. German silver a white alloy of nickel, zinc, and copper. High German a literary and cultured form of German. Low German German dialects other than High German. [L Germanus with ref. to related peoples of Central and N. Europe, a name perh. given by Celts to their neighbours: cf. OIr. gair neighbour]

germen.html - adj.
(placed after brother, sister, or cousin)
1 having both parents the same (brother german).
2 having both grandparents the same on one side (cousin german).
3 archaic germane. [ME f. OF germain f. L germanus genuine, of the same parents]

germen.html - n.
any plant of the genus Teucrium.

germander speedwell a creeping plant, Veronica chamaedrys, with germander-like leaves and blue flowers. [ME f. med.L germandra ult. f. Gk khamaidrus f. khamai on the ground + drus oak]

germen.html - adj.
(usu. foll. by to) relevant (to a subject under consideration).

germanely adv. germaneness n. [var. of GERMAN]

germen.html - adj. & n.
--adj.

1 having German characteristics.
2 hist. of the Germans.
3 of the Scandinavians, Anglo-Saxons, or Germans.
4 of the languages or language group called Germanic.

--n.

1 the branch of Indo-European languages including English, German, Dutch, and the Scandinavian languages.
2 the (unrecorded) early language from which other Germanic languages developed.

East Germanic an extinct group including Gothic. North Germanic the Scandinavian languages. West Germanic a group including High and Low German, English, Frisian, and Dutch. [L Germanicus (as GERMAN)]