German
noun
- West Germanic language
- person from Germany
- member of the German population
adjective
- from or related to germany
Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /ˈd͡ʒɜː.mən/ / /ˈd͡ʒɝ.mən/
adj
Etymology: From Old French germain, from Latin germānus, from germen (“seed, sprout, bud”). See also germane, a formal variant which has survived in specific senses. Not related to the proper noun German.
- Having the same mother and father; a full (brother or sister).
“brother-german”
- Being born to one’s blood aunt or uncle, a first (cousin).
“cousin-german”
“The doubtfull wordes whereof they scan and canvas to an fro. Which done, Prometheus sonne began by counsell wise and sage”
- Closely related, akin.
“After this Merlyn told vnto kynge Arthur of the prophecye / that there shold be a grete batail besyde Salysbury and Mordred his owne sone sholde be ageynste hym / Also he tolde hym that Basdemegus was his cosyn and germayn vnto kynge Vryence”
“The phrase would bee more Germaine.”
name
Etymology: From Latin Germānus, Germānī (“the peoples of Germānia”), as distinct from Gauls (in the writings of Caesar and Tacitus), and of uncertain ultimate origin (possibly Celtic/Gaulish). Not related to german (“closely related”) or germane (from the Latin adjective germānus, through Old French). Attested since at least 1520. Replaced the older terms Almain and Dutch (from Proto-Germanic *þiudiskaz) in English. Besides cognates of German, Almain, and Dutch, two other categories of words for the Germans in other languages are cognates of Saxon and descendants of Proto-Slavic *němьcь; see those entries for more. The surname is generally from the noun, though sometimes confused with Herman, Hermann under Russian influence. As a German surname, Americanized from Germann. Compare Germán, Germain, Jerman.
- An Indo-European (Indo-Germanic) language, primarily spoken in Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein, South Tyrol, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and a small part of Belgium.
“Meronyms: Low German (Plattdeutsch), High German”
“German has three genders: masculine, feminine and neuter.”
- A surname.
- A male given name from Russian.
- A number of townships in the United States, listed under German Township.
- A parish of the sheading of Glenfaba, Isle of Man.
noun
Etymology: From German (“of Germany”).
- An elaborate round dance, often with a waltz movement.
“Through the years, though, the german was replaced by new and more popular dances, but in many instances the name stayed on.”
- A social party at which the german is danced.