Dictionary

german en · ADJ · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• (Southern-England) audio
• /ˈd͡ʒɝ.mən/ (US)
• /ˈd͡ʒɜː.mən/ (UK)

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.

Meanings

1. (qualifier:obsolete except in set terms) Having the same mother and father; a full (brother or sister).
   • brother-german
2. (qualifier:obsolete except in set terms) Being born to one’s blood aunt or uncle; a first (cousin).
   • The doubtfull wordes whereof they scan and canvas to an fro. Which done, Prometheus sonne began by counsell wise and sage 1567 Arthur Golding trans., Ovid's Metamorphoses, Book 1, lines 460-2
   • cousin-german
3. (obsolete) 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 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, “xj”, in Le Morte Darthur, book II:
   • Wert thou a Leopard, thou wert Germane to the Lion. c. 1605–1608 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Life of Tymon of Athens”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene iii]:
   • The phrase would bee more Germaine. c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene ii]:

Forms

Deriveds

sister german · brother german · cousin german · sister-german · cousin-german · brother-german

Translations (18)

es primo carnal ((cousin) born to one’s blood aunt or uncle) · pt germano ((brother or sister) sharing parents) · nrf gèrmain ((brother or sister) sharing parents) · ru двою́родный брат ((cousin) born to one’s blood aunt or uncle) · bg роден ((brother or sister) sharing parents) · fr germain ((cousin) born to one’s blood aunt or uncle) · nrf gèrmain ((cousin) born to one’s blood aunt or uncle) · mk пр́ва бра́тучедка ((cousin) born to one’s blood aunt or uncle) · es hermano carnal ((brother or sister) sharing parents) · ru кро́вный брат ((brother or sister) sharing parents) · ka ღვიძლი ((brother or sister) sharing parents) · ka ღვიძლი და ((brother or sister) sharing parents) · el αμφιθαλής ((brother or sister) sharing parents) · fr germain ((brother or sister) sharing parents) · mk пр́в бра́тучед ((cousin) born to one’s blood aunt or uncle) · ru кро́вная сестра́ ((brother or sister) sharing parents) · ru двою́родная сестра́ ((cousin) born to one’s blood aunt or uncle) · ka ღვიძლი ძმა ((brother or sister) sharing parents)

german en · NOUN · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• (Southern-England) audio
• /ˈd͡ʒɝ.mən/ (US)
• /ˈd͡ʒɜː.mən/ (UK)

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.

Meanings

1. (obsolete) A near relative.
   • Which when his german saw, the stony feare / Ran to his hart, and all his sence dismayd […] 1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book II, Canto VIII”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC:

Forms

Translations (2)

fr germain (a near relative) · fr germaine (a near relative)

german en · NOUN · etymology 2

Pronunciation

• (Southern-England) audio
• /ˈd͡ʒɝ.mən/ (US)
• /ˈd͡ʒɜː.mən/ (UK)

Etymology

From German (“of Germany”).

Meanings

1. 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. 1985, Betty Casey, Dance Across Texas, page 49:
2. A social party at which the german is danced.

Forms