Part 474

Carpenter.

2. That from which anything springs; origin; first principle; as, the germ of civil liberty.

Disease germ (Biol.), a name applied to certain tiny bacterial organisms or their spores, such as Anthrax bacillus and the Micrococcus of fowl cholera, which have been demonstrated to be the cause of certain diseases. See Germ theory (below). -- Germ cell (Biol.), the germ, egg, spore, or cell from which the plant or animal arises. At one time a part of the body of the parent, it finally becomes detached,and by a process of multiplication and growth gives rise to a mass of cells, which ultimately form a new individual like the parent. See Ovum. -- Germ gland. (Anat.) See Gonad. -- Germ stock (Zoˆl.), a special process on which buds are developed in certain animals. See Doliolum. -- Germ theory (Biol.), the theory that living organisms can be produced only by the evolution or development of living germs or seeds. See Biogenesis, and Abiogenesis. As applied to the origin of disease, the theory claims that the zymotic diseases are due to the rapid development and multiplication of various bacteria, the germs or spores of which are either contained in the organism itself, or transferred through the air or water. See Fermentation theory.

Germ (?), v. i. To germinate. [R.] J. Morley.

Ger*main" (?), a. [Obs.] See Germane.

Ger"man (?), a. [OE. german, germain, F. germain, fr. L. germanus full, own (said of brothers and sisters who have the same parents); akin to germen germ. Cf. Germ, Germane.] Nearly related; closely akin.

Wert thou a leopard, thou wert german to the lion.

Shak.

Brother german. See Brother german. -- Cousins german. See the Note under Cousin.

Ger"man, n.; pl. Germans (#) [L. Germanus, prob. of Celtis origin.] 1. A native or one of the people of Germany.

2. The German language.

3. (a) A round dance, often with a waltz movement, abounding in capriciosly involved figures. (b) A social party at which the german is danced.

High German, the Teutonic dialect of Upper or Southern Germany, -- comprising Old High German, used from the 8th to the 11th century; Middle H. G., from the 12th to the 15th century; and Modern or New H. G., the language of Luther's Bible version and of modern German literature. The dialects of Central Germany, the basis of the modern literary language, are often called Middle German, and the Southern German dialects Upper German; but High German is also used to cover both groups. -- Low German, the language of Northern Germany and the Netherlands, -- including Friesic; Anglo-Saxon or Saxon; Old Saxon; Dutch or Low Dutch, with its dialect, Flemish; and Plattdeutsch (called also Low German), spoken in many dialects.

Ger"man, a. [L. Germanus. See German, n.] Of or pertaining to Germany.

German Baptists. See Dunker. -- German bit, a wood-boring tool, having a long elliptical pod and a scew point. -- German carp (Zoˆl.), the crucian carp. -- German millet (Bot.), a kind of millet (Setaria Italica, var.), whose seed is sometimes used for food. -- German paste, a prepared food for caged birds. -- German process (Metal.), the process of reducing copper ore in a blast furnace, after roasting, if necessary. Raymond. -- German sarsaparilla, a substitute for sarsaparilla extract. -- German sausage, a polony, or gut stuffed with meat partly cooked. -- German silver (Chem.), a silver-white alloy, hard and tough, but malleable and ductile, and quite permanent in the air. It contains nickel, copper, and zinc in varying proportions, and was originally made from old copper slag at Henneberg. A small amount of iron is sometimes added to make it whiter and harder. It is essentially identical with the Chinese alloy packfong. It was formerly much used for tableware, knife handles, frames, cases, bearings of machinery, etc., but is now largely superseded by other white alloys. -- German steel (Metal.), a metal made from bog iron ore in a forge, with charcoal for fuel. -- German text (Typog.), a character resembling modern German type, used in English printing for ornamental headings, etc., as in the words,

This line is German Text.

-- German tinder. See Amadou.

Ger*man"der (?), n. [OE. germaunder, F. germandrÈe, It. calamandrea, L. chamaedrys, fr. Gr.&?;; &?; on the earth or ground + &?; tree. See Humble, and Tree.] (Bot.) A plant of the genus Teucrium (esp. Teucrium ChamÊdrys or wall germander), mintlike herbs and low shrubs.

American germander, Teucrium Canadense. -- Germander chickweed, Veronica agrestis. -- Water germander, Teucrium Scordium. -- Wood germander, Teucrium Scorodonia.

Ger*mane" (?), a. [See German akin, nearly related.] Literally, near akin; hence, closely allied; appropriate or fitting; relevant.

The phrase would be more germane to the matter.

Shak.

Barclay (Digest).

Ger*man"ic (?), a. (Chem.) Pertaining to, or containing, germanium.

Ger*man"ic, a. [L. Germanicus: cf. F. germanique. See German, n.] 1. Of or pertaining to Germany; as, the Germanic confederacy.

2. Teutonic. [A loose sense]

Ger"man*ism (?), n. [Cf. F. germanisme.] 1. An idiom of the German language.

2. A characteristic of the Germans; a characteristic German mode, doctrine, etc.; rationalism. J. W. Alexander.